Hélène Amouzou
Ephemeral Self-Portraits from the Margins
Born in 1969 in Togo, Hélène Amouzou has since relocated to Molenbeek, Belgium, where she continues to evolve her artistic practice. Amouzou's work, while drawing inspiration from the iconic American photographer Francesca Woodman, carves out its own unique space within the photographic world. Her imagery resonates deeply with themes of displacement and exile, capturing the essence of contemporary issues faced by many around the globe.
Amouzou's preference for film over digital media is a deliberate choice that embraces the unpredictability of chance and serendipity. Through long exposures, she crafts ephemeral and ghostly self-portraits that extend beyond mere visual representation to touch upon the metaphysical. In her own words, "Self-portraiture is a way of writing without words. My aim is to reveal the deepest parts of myself." This approach allows Amouzou to explore and express her identity in a manner that is both intimate and universal.
Her haunting photographs often depict her or her belongings, such as clothes, within desolate rooms adorned with peeling floral wallpaper. A suitcase frequently appears, symbolizing her continuous state of transition and the uncertainty that accompanies the quest for belonging. These images were captured over a two-year period as Amouzou navigated the asylum-seeking process in Belgium, awaiting her official residency visa.
Amouzou's work is a poignant reflection on identity, freedom, and legitimacy within a framework of bureaucratic inertia and social inequalities. Her photography poignantly addresses the feelings of exclusion and stigmatization experienced during the lengthy process of seeking asylum. The sense of impermanence that permeates her work speaks to the broader experience of those living in limbo, caught between the desire for safety and the fear of repatriation to danger.
The ghostly presence in Amouzou's photographs serves as a powerful metaphor for the no-man's land between absence and presence, capturing the viewer's imagination and inviting a deeper contemplation of the narratives of those displaced by circumstance. Through her lens, Hélène Amouzou not only documents her personal journey but also sheds light on the broader human condition, making her work a compelling study of resilience and identity in the face of adversity.
