Morten Andenæs is an artist and writer, and during the last decade, his work has revolved around fundamental questions surrounding picture-making. What role do images play in how we perceive the world and each other, and what possibilities do we have of transcending or seeing beyond these horizons?
‘We live in the house across the street’ deals with questions regarding familial and societal expectations, and the potentially destructive reactions that these restrictions might trigger.
The book is designed as a green object; an ultimate surface for projections and an empty container that potentially can be filled with any content. The concept of the limitless projection surface is echoed by a series of pictures of black guns and people against a green screen, titled ’Picture this’ which has a particularly prominent position in this volume.
The title of the book is taken from a photo of a tidy townhouse facade, seen from what we must presume is the other side of the street. Though we typically fear the unknown, exemplified by the stranger, there is just as much fear involved in our projective fantasies about what goes on within the four walls of the neighbour. Like many of the pictures in this book, the neighbour can trigger our fantasies and feelings of lust, envy and anger.
The book is made with an open spine and a loose jacket, that can easily transform its outer facade into a naked and exposed object creating associations to the fragile construction of our self-images and the fantasies that often linger behind the well-groomed facade of middle-class homes.
Thanks to Galleri Riis for lending us their location.
The images displayed in this case are: “Mirror images, Anne” (2013),
“The island” (2015) and “Picture this _ figure study # 19 from the series FUCK!” (2013)