Twenty or more images of Havana cinemas make up the Teatros series (2018–2022). Before the revolution, Havana had at least as many movie theaters as New York or Paris, when Cuba was a vacation destination for (primarily) American tourists. Many have not been used for decades, either given a new purpose or withered away with the Cuban economy. Most structures are from the 1940s and 1950s, while some were constructed just after the revolution by the Castro government.
Most of the photographs in the series are digitally stitched and made up of several different shots. The individuals in the foreground were indeed present at those locations, though (in some cases) not simultaneously. They were photographed separately and then superimposed on each photo, questioning the veracity of the photographic moment. The photos could therefore be more suggestive of fiction and fabrication. Instead of relying on photographic luck, the photographer assumed the role of a director (CFR. cinema/theater) who determines the scenario.
The exhibition is part of a series of programs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam - The Kingdom of Belgium (1973 - 2023) and a part of the Photo Hanoi'23 International Photography Biennale.
Bert Danckaert (1965) studied photography at the Academy of Fine Arts and the National Higher Institute of Fine Arts (NHISK) in Antwerp, Belgium. Since the mid nineties, he has been working as a photographer and has shown his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Belgium and abroad. Besides his artistic activities, Danckaert also writes about photography for several newspapers and magazines (mainly H ART) and has worked as freelance curator and organizer of several projects. He is associate professor of photography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts , Antwerp (B). Bert Danckaert is a POC (Piece of Cake) member, an international network of photographers.
In 1999, Danckaert started the series Make Sense! which was published as a book in 2006. In 2007 he started working on a series entitled Simple Present of which the book Simple Present – Beijing appeared in 2008, Cape Town Notes in 2009 and finally the complete series Simple Present in 2013. In 2016 his 5th book Horizon appeared together with the English translation of his novel De Extra’s as The Extras.
Teatros – An exhibition by Bert Danckaert
- Time: 13.05 – 13.06.2023, 7:00 – 19:00 daily
- Opening: 18:30, 13.05.2023
- Artist talk: 18:30 – 20:00, 18.05.2023
- Location: Matca Space for Photography, 48 Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
