IN-DEPENDANCE is proud to present “Evidence of Absence”, a solo exhibition of Danish artist Adam Jeppesen. The exhibition will coincide with the launch of his newest book 'Evidence of Absence', co-published by the(M) éditions & IBASHO.
Adam Jeppesen, born in 1978 in Denmark and now living in Maldonado, Uruguay, is a visual artist whose work delves deeply into the themes of time and materiality. His art embraces imperfection, transforming it into a focal point that enhances the beauty of his photographs and installations. Jeppesen’s works present a mysterious depiction of reality, where he honours the physical imperfections that emerge, allowing time to leave its mark on the photographic materials.
With the new series, “Evidence of Absence”, Jeppesen seeks to provoke thought about the increasingly blurred boundaries between the biological and synthetic. Jeppesen’s works are anthotypes — images made from light-sensitive plant materials. He gathers plants to create natural dyes, which are then applied to paper or fabric. After drying, the paper or fabric is placed in the sun with a photo negative on top. The process allows the shaded areas to retain colour while the sun-exposed sections fade. The outcome is left to chance, shaped by both the season when the plants are harvested and the weather during development. This tactile and organic process sharply contrasts with the ethereal, ghost-like motifs created through software. The portraits are intentionally abstract, not meant to be clear or recognisable but to evoke sensations, imagination, and memories. As recognising faces is one of our most instinctual human behaviours, Jeppesen’s work seeks to bridge the gap between our biological selves and the intangible, synthetic realm of software, giving the digital world a biological form.
The artist states: “The faces represent something, but not someone. What we are looking at is not human. (…) They are contemporary ghosts, without the foundational aspects of impermanence and transience that constitute and guide our own mortal lives. We are dealing with a strange case of photography that does not depict a moment in time. A bit like ghosts, we encounter a phenomenon that has an impact on us, but which is out of reach and impossible to physically touch.”
With “Evidence of Absence”, Jeppesen offers a series of poetic and enigmatic images that echo the rising presence of artificial intelligence, inviting us to reflect on its profound existential and ethical impact. When we put our faith in technology that not only learns with remarkable speed and accurately simulates reality, but remains elusive, artificial intelligence becomes the invisible force of our time. It is the phantom of the modern age—a ghostly presence that quietly sustains our way of life while challenging the very pillars of democracy and the essence of truth itself.
Adam Jeppesen gained international recognition with his “Wake” series, which was published as a book by Steidl in 2008. In 2009, Jeppesen was nominated for both the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize and the KLM Paul Huf Award. His work has been exhibited worldwide and is present in the collection at the Denver Art Museum (USA), the Danish Arts Foundation, the National Public Art Council in Sweden, the National Museum of Photography in Denmark, as well as in numerous private collections.
Artists: Adam Jeppesen