Publications – Tamsjadi & Schmidt

ART NOW Gallery Portfolio 2023

„Sinta Tamsjadi and Thomas Schmidt are both photographers and subjects at the same time, as the artist duo photograph themselves – though not in the style of a classical self-portrait, but rather with the intention of blending into the background as individuals in their own works, dissolving into the overall image and becoming part of the representation of an overarching, comprehensive idea. In doing so, they use a remote control to manually operate the camera, so that they can determine when the picture is taken, without, however, being able to fully anticipate the result.

In this way, they seek to explore existential questions in their works. In the photo series Erde and Asche (Earth and Ashes), for example, their bodies blend with the very primordial materials from which we as human beings emerge and into which, in our transience, we pass again into eternity. Birth and death – the inescapable beginning and end of every life. We spend the time in between urgently striving for complete control over as many aspects of our lives as possible. But what happens when we lose this control, even if it is just for a brief moment? Tamsjadi and Schmidt decided to try it out and let themselves fall together – in the truest sense of the word and from a height of several meters – and they captured this moment of supreme loss of control in the photo series Fallen.

The photographs by Tamsjadi and Schmidt show basal, at times archaic-looking scenes which are conceptualised by the artists during a lengthy process and arranged with great effort. Although the images are purely photographic, the works sometimes appear to be painted. With a contrasting illuminated occurrance in the center of the picture, framed by a profoundly dark background or one that dissolves into the unknown, the composition of the pictures is reminiscent of the depictions of nature by the old masters. When the two artists dance unclothed in a cloud of dust and ash or melt into the ground like forest creatures completely covered with earth, the may appear primeval or, by contrast, post-apocalyptic, but in any case, the works always have a mystical dimension and tell stories of panmondial proportions.

Sinta Tamsjadi now lives in Berlin, Thomas Schmidt in Hamburg, and they have been working together as an artist duo since 2014. Both studied in Hamburg – Tamsjadi drama, Schmidt, photo design. Schmidt has worked as a freelance photographer and artist since 1990, Tamsjadi in theatre and film – performing, screenwriting and directing. The work of the artist duo has already been shown in serveral solo and group exhibitions in Germany and Italy.“

Dr. Felix Brosius, ART NOW Gallery http://www.artnow-gallery.com

YAK Magazine #59 June/July/August 2018

Interview

Sinta and Thomas, we are in awe of your work. Tell us about Ashes, and your project Earth, and how the work came about?

Sinta: Since childhood I`ve been interested in the questions: what am I? Is existence real? Where do we come from and where do we go?

Thomas: When we die our bodies will be buried in Earth or burned to Ashes. Both substances are connected to the transformation from live to death. My art work has always been about the process of dying. When I was eight I painted my new toy train to make it look old and realistic.

Have you collaborated before?

Sinta: With Thomas? No. But I have collaborated on other projects, with other people. A book projekt, a screenplay … and in directing a theater play. I enjoy collaborations. My interest is in relating with people and what can happen between them.

Thomas: This is my first collaboration and I hope Sinta and I will continue to find ways to express ourselves for a long time to come.

What are you backgrounds?

Sinta: I studied drama and have worked in theater and film.

Thomas: I studied photography and work as fashion photographer.

How did you both meet and when did you decide to be a team?

Thomas: We knew each other for a long time through mutual friends. About three years ago I asked Sinta if she would be part of a portrait project about skin. She declined but proposed that we both be in front of the camera using a cable release.

Sinta: It felt great that Thomas immediately agreed even though before he had only been behind the camera. I suggested to add earth because I had a vision of our work.

What were the practicalities of the shoots, and how long did it take you to capture your vision?

Thomas: Both series need tremendous preparations to set up the stage in the studio. Since we are both performers and photographers at the same time it is crucial that our equipment works perfectly because we can´t interrupt the performance.

Sinta: The usual outcome per session is about three images that we feel work. When printed and framed in sizes up to 200cm x 150cm they reveal more facets. EARTH images remind us of oil paintings and ASHES increases in transparency.

2017 — **Europa** Archival Pigment Print 26,5/33,3cm, 100/125,9cm, 140/177,1cm

Where does that vision come from?

Sinta: It suddenly shoots up. Like a deep breath. Contemplation is a daily practice.

Thomas: We talk a lot about our inner state and questions. What follows is a process of destillation. When it comes to the next session we usually have a word, a piece of music, a gut feeling that leads us into the performance. From there we let go.

Sinta: With Thomas I can sense a willingness to enter the unknown together.

2016 — **Traube** Archival Pigment Print 26,5/35,2cm, 90/119,8cm, 120/159cm

There is a pedigree to the images, and they seem to reference many artworks … the ideas are – dare we say it – „Homeric“, the struggle of Man and Gods intertwined.

Sinta: We carry the culture we were nourished with in our bodies. There´s an access that finds its way through our expression into the work. It depends on how fluent we are while performing.

Thomas: We never thought of specific artists but we are very conscious about the frame of art history we are moving in. For example the black space in our pictures is certainly inspired by Goya.

And … yes, to us one criteria for a good picture is if we appear to be more than just ourselves, ideally we don´t look like ourselves anymore but seem to be something bigger – if you want – something homeric.

They represent to us ideas of struggle and torment, loyalty and devotion. Are they an illustration of the human condition?

Sinta: In a very practical and non-judgmental sense, yes. As they say: The way in is the way out.

Thomas: Yes, very much so. For my part the starting point of the performance is pain, my personal pain, the pain I`ve suffered from in the past and more now the pain of other people too.

Is this a project you have considered performing?

Sinta: No, but you are giving us an idea.

Thomas: Not yet – so far we were focused on photography. But we are open to new developements and I wouldn´t say this is impossible.

How important is the role of art? What is the role of art?

Sinta: Art can take you and me where words cannot reach. Is that important? I´d say yes. If you allow it, it can be a pointer to take a break, to stop the chasing-the-cheese-wheel.

Thomas: I don´t understand the question.