In the vibrant landscape of contemporary art, one artist stands out for her captivating vision and ability to challenge prevailing narratives. Johnny Mae Hauser, a Dutch-German photographer, brings a fresh perspective to the world of visual storytelling, transcending conventional boundaries and redefining the way we perceive and understand emotion.
Through her lens, she explores the obscure existence of human emotion, revealing a meditative stillness that emanates from her images. Characterised by a soft, yet deep and dark palette, her photographs have a poetic quality that invites the viewer into a dialogue with their own inner selves. Themes of introspection, isolation and emotional intimacy weave seamlessly through her compositions, creating a powerful sense of connection between the artist and her audience.
In the following interview, Hauser encourages an exploration of what lies beyond the visible and gives us an insight into her unique perspective on the interplay between art, photography and the human psyche.
Can you tell us about the journey that led you to realise your passion for photography and pursue it as a career?
I started taking pictures in high school. At first, I focused on capturing the absence of people, using objects like gloves as traces of human presence. However, at that time I didn’t see photography as a potential career, nor did I see myself as an artist. Eventually, I dropped out of high school and embarked on a period of self-discovery, living independently and experiencing life through trial and error. It wasn’t until my mother suggested that I study photography when I was 21 that I began to realise the potential of my passion. Despite not having the conventional qualifications, I took an IQ test and was accepted into a photography programme at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (KABK). That’s when my journey began.