Jan Pypers, The Hare Series
Antwerp-based Belgium photographer Jan Pypers captures moments in places, sometimes dark and ominous, that form stories in the viewer’s mind. He starts with a memory or experience, often from his youth, gives it a slight twist, and transforms it into an image. To stage these moments, he uses scale models of different sizes, lifelike decors, and cinematic effects, often drawing inspiration for his creation from films by such artists as Christopher Nolan and David Lynch. Making the basic images with a digital camera, Pypers then shoots additional photos in his studio, bringing it all together in post-production.
Pypers initiated the “Hare Series” after experiencing a succession of intense dreams. In this series, an innocent, endearing character, reminiscent of Peter Rabbit from our childhood, is inserted into a dark world, becoming a disturbing, stalking menace. The hare figure is seen hidden on conspicuous corners and casually standing or sitting on a windowsill; but even in these circumstances, a growing sense of unease and paranoia is instilled in the viewer.
“In the morning, I always felt lost, you know the feeling. Hare is actually a tribute to the dream, where nothing is impossible and we can do and feel whatever we want. Hare is about our irrational fear of the unknown but also about our denial for real problems such as climate, individualism, loneliness” — Jan Pypers
Many thanks to a great art, film and music site: https://ohbythewayblog.blogspot.com