top of page
DSC01669

DSC01669

DSC01712

DSC01712

DSC01772-1

DSC01772-1

DSC01784

DSC01784

In the 'Humane' series, Vethan Sautour challenges the meaning of the eponymous term, and thusly what it means to be human. Each photography depicts a flaw or threat ailing the human species, in continuity with the 'Endangered' and 'Origami Extinction' series, which focused on threats ailing non-human animals. These were human-made threats and likewise the dangers lurking on bipeds are either for the most part of their own doing or inherent to their nature, and just as fatally destructive.

​

Drawing from German Expressionism, the masks enable to strongly bring out the individual threats. The dissimulation of the face paired with the inherently menacing look of the symbolic masks emphasise the underlying anguish and tension carried out by each subject. Similar to "As You Like It"'s Jacques' seven ages monologue, seven allegorical figures in total will emerge from darkness of which only the faces, hands and attributes can be seen. These seven actors populate a dark universal stage, where humanity plays itself out, battling its nature, haunted by seven looming entities it must stay away from to survive.

Most topics are depicted in the style of Old Masters portraits and the particular grain of the photographs, shades and colours are made to mimic the impression of oil paintings, so as to accentuate their universality and timeless nature. Humanity is facing more than seven menaces, but the following have been considered the most important:  pandemic, cruelty, vanity, greed, war, mental health and fear.

​

The photographs are editions of seven.

bottom of page