Sehnsucht
A collection of photographs from small towns and rural communities 

Artist Statement:

“Sehnsucht” is a German compound word derived from yearning (das Sehnen) and addiction (die Sucht). But even when considered together, the English words “yearning-addiction” do not adequately translate the full meaning in German. The word connotes a longing for someone or something that cannot be fully defined and will not be found.

Initially motivated by precisely this feeling of longing, I made these photographs in small towns and rural communities in the United States and Europe, all demographically similar to the town in Germany where I grew up. Over time, the focus of this project has shifted to the rural communities in towns that are maintained despite their disappearing lifestyle. My photographs do not merely document, but rather translate the ritualistic and spiritual undercurrent of these places into concrete visual representations. The somber mood of the inhabitants in these photographs is balanced by the beauty of the landscape, discouraging a one-sided understanding of them. The landscape becomes a character itself and represents the pride in the land I have encountered in my subjects.

The characters I encounter in these villages are as complex as the ambivalent sense of rootedness I am searching for. My compositions mirror this quality, deliberately mixing traditional photographic genres such as the portrait, landscape, or interior. While my rural upbringing allows me to photograph these subjects, in a sense, as a participant-observer, my attraction to this environment is more than merely personal. There is a quietude to the rural as photographic subject that strips away distractions and amplifies the visibility of the inevitable cycles of life. The people in my photographs exist in their own world, and this spatial and emotional distance functions as a reminder that these places remain impermeable and the comfort I am searching for is indeed elusive.

-Barbara Diener
www.barbaradienerphotography.com

Exhibit Details
June 25 - September 11, 2016 

Join us in the Regional Artist Gallery on Saturday, July 16 from 11:00am-12:00pm. Barbara Diener will be speaking about the exhibit and her work. This event is free and open to the public.  

The Regional Artist Gallery is located on the third floor of the Fox Cities Building for the Arts. This gallery is open during all museum hours and is free and open to the public.

Hours: 
Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-4pm
Thursdays, until 8pm*
Sundays, Noon-4pm
*Closed Mondays, major holidays, and Thursday evening special events.

Nancy, 2012, Archival Inkjet Print