IMPERISHABLE (series)
2023
Western Europe is a landscape carved by faith. Regardless of personal belief, our collective identity is inextricably linked to a religious past that continues to shape our modern visual language and ethical framework. In the series IMPERISHABLE, Dutch fine art photographer Arjan Spannenburg explores this enduring presence, capturing how ancient narratives survive within our secular, contemporary world.
As Spannenburg himself observes: "You don't have to believe in God, or Jesus Christ, to still carry your own cross."
This series matters because it uncovers the "invisible" religious framework informing our social fabric. Utilizing the dramatic chiaroscuro of the Dutch Masters, Spannenburg treats religious iconography not as a matter of devotion, but as a foundational layer of Western identity. The two works, Imperishable and Austere, serve as a photographic study of our societal DNA. By isolating the symbol of the cross, Spannenburg invites the viewer to recognize the echoes of the past in the silence of the present.
