Scarlett Hooft Graafland is a
Dutch artist who uses a combination of photography, performance, and
site-specific sculpture to create images that are surreal and fantastical. Some
of the most isolated places on Earth, such as the salt desert of Bolivia, the
Canadian arctic, Madagascar, Socotra Island, or Vanuatu, become live actors in
the highly choreographed performances that the artist stages there. After
spending weeks preparing and working closely with inhabitants, Hooft Graafland
creates a scene, focusing on the local social issues. The vast and surreal
landscapes silently comment on the subject. She earned a BFA at the Royal
Academy of Art in The Hague and an MFA at Parson’s School of Design, New York.
Featured image: Scarlett Hooft Graafland - Pink
Lady, 2015 (detail). Inkjet print mounted on Dibond. 39 2/5 × 49 1/5 in. 100 ×
125 cm. Edition of 6. This work is part of a limited edition set. Photo
courtesy Galerie XII