Items Similar to Maybe tomorrow (Stranger than Paradise) - 21st Century, Polaroid, Color
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
Stefanie SchneiderMaybe tomorrow (Stranger than Paradise) - 21st Century, Polaroid, Color1999
1999
About the Item
Maybe tomorrow (Stranger than Paradise) - 1999
Edition of 10,
50x50cm.
Archival C-Print, on Archive Fuji Chrystal Paper, based on the Polaroid.
Artist inventory number: 20658.
Signature label and certificate.
Not mounted.
A warm welcome Stefanie, when did you first decide to work with Polaroids and why do Polaroids seem to be so well tuned to our (artistic) senses, perception and minds?
Well, I first started using expired Polaroid film in 1996 simply because it has the most beautiful quality and encapsulates my vision perfectly. The colors on one hand, but then the magic moment of witnessing the image appear was the tipper. Time seems to stand still, and the act of watching the image develop can be shared with the people around you. It captures a moment, which becomes the past so instantly that the decay of time is even more apparent; – it gives the image a certain sentimentality. That Polaroid moment when it's developing is somehow similar to when baby is born. You're not sure what you'll be getting exactly and some sadly, just don't make it. It's a risk worth taking.
Why use a medium from the past?
For me, analog has always been there in the present. Todays generation, analog is interesting because it's new to them. I understand that people growing up in a digital age will wonder about its usefulness, but it's theirs to recover if they want to. When I first started working with Polaroid, it wasn't the past. It was a partially forgotten medium, but it existed nonetheless. It is mine by choice. There is no substitute for tangible beauty and photography profoundly changed in every way when digital took over. For the audience and the shooter.
Is it imperfect?
The imperfect perfection in a “wabi-sabi” kind of way. It's unique.
Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".
'If an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi' 'Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.'
Is the Polaroid photograph recognizable or even sometimes cliché?
Absolutely! There's something cliché about the way I'm showing the American Dream. I live it myself, trying to find perfection in an imperfect world.
You continually revisit the landscape of the American West in your work. What draws you back to this scene?
Southern California represents is a dream to me. The contrast of Northern Germany, where I grew up, to the endless sunshine of Los Angeles was what first attracted me. The American West is my dream of choice. Wide, open spaces give perspectives that articulate emotions and desires. Isolation feeds feelings of freedom or sometimes the pondering of your past. The High Desert of 29 Palms has very clear and vivid light, which is vital when using expired Polaroid film. Those 'imperfections' mirror the decline of the American dream. These so called 'imperfections' illustrate the reality of that dream turning into a nightmare. The disintegration of Western society.
Are you playing with the temporality of the material and the value of the moment itself?
The value of the moment is paramount, for it is that moment that you're trying to transform. All material is temporary, it's just relative.
Why does analog film feel more pure and intuitive?
It's tangible and bright and represents a single moment.
The digital moment may stay in the box (the hard drive / camera / computer etc.) forever, never to be touched, put into a photo album, sent in a letter, or hung on a wall. Just printing makes it an accomplishment.
The analog world is more selective, (due to the cost) creating images of our collective memory.
The digital worldwide clicking destroys the moment. The generation without memories due to information overload and hard drive failures. Photo albums are simply a thing of the past. Isn't that amazing.
Why does it feel this way?
When I was a child, every picture been taken was a special moment. Analog photographic film as well as Super-8 material were expensive treasures. My family's memories were created by choosing certain moments in time. There was an effort behind the picture. The roll of film might wait months inside the camera before it was all used. From there, the film required developing, which took more time, and finally, when the photos were picked up from the shop, the memories were visited again together as a family. Who knew then, how fleeting these times were. Shared memories was a ritual.
What's your philosophy behind the art of Polaroid pictures?
The 'obsolete' is anything but obsolete. Things are not always as they appear, and there are hidden messages. Our memories and our dreams are under-valued. It is there that real learning and understanding begins by opening yourself to different perspectives. Also, your relation to the photographs changes in time.
What inspired you to use stop motion cinematography?
My work has always resembled movie stills. I remember the first time I brought a box of Polaroids and slid them onto Susanne Vielmetter's desk (my first gallery). Instantly, it became apparent that there was a story to tell. The stories grew. It was undeniable to me, that the emerging story was where I was destined to go. I've made four short films before my latest feature film, "The Girl behind the White Picket Fence". This film is 60 minutes long with over 4000 edited Polaroids. It's important to remember that our sub-conscious fills in the blanks, the parts missing from the story allow a deeper and more personal experience for the viewer. That is, if you surrender yourself and trust me as the director to lead you somewhere you might not have been before.
Why do you think it is important to own art?
'We have art in order not to die of the truth'
Nietzsche
- Creator:Stefanie Schneider (1968, German)
- Creation Year:1999
- Dimensions:Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)Width: 19.69 in (50 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Morongo Valley, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU652311414992
Stefanie Schneider
Stefanie Schneider received her MFA in Communication Design at the Folkwang Schule Essen, Germany. Her work has been shown at the Museum for Photography, Braunschweig, Museum für Kommunikation, Berlin, the Institut für Neue Medien, Frankfurt, the Nassauischer Kunstverein, Wiesbaden, Kunstverein Bielefeld, Museum für Moderne Kunst Passau, Les Rencontres d'Arles, Foto -Triennale Esslingen., Bombay Beach Biennale 2018, 2019.
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1996
1stDibs seller since 2017
1,023 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Morongo Valley, CA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllRadha Shooting II (Long Way Home) - 21st Century, Polaroid, Pop-art, Color
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Radha Shooting II (Stranger than Paradise) - 1999
38x36cm, Edition of 30,
digital C-Print based on a Polaroid,
Signature label and Certificate.
Artist Inventory No 259.34.
Not mo...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Dreamgirl I (29 Palms, CA) - analog, mounted
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Dreamgirl II (29 Palms, CA) - 1999
Edition 2/10,
58x56cm.
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist, based on the Polaroid.
Mounted on Aluminum with matte UV-Protection.
Signe...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
$1,430 Sale Price
35% Off
Alaska (Stranger than Paradise) analog - 6 pieces
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Alaska (Stranger than Paradise) - 2002
Edition of 10, plus 2 Artist Proofs.
43x66cm installed, 20x20cm each.
6 Archival C-Prints, based original 6 Polaroids.
Signature and Certif...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Her Last Call (The Girl...) - including the book 'A Half Forgotten Dream'
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Her Last Call (The Girl Behind the White Picket Fence), 2013
including Stefanie Schneider's new monograph "A Half Forgotten Dream" signed. 192 pages, hardcover, published by Snap C...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Flying (29 Palms) - including the book 'A Half Forgotten Dream'
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Flying (Stage of Consciousness) - 2007
including Stefanie Schneider's new monograph "A Half Forgotten Dream" signed. 192 pages, hardcover, published by Snap Collective, 2024.
featu...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Memories of Love II (The Girl...) - including the book 'A Half Forgotten Dream'
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Memories of Love II (The Girl Behind the White Picket Fence), 2013
including Stefanie Schneider's new monograph "A Half Forgotten Dream" signed. 192 pages, hardcover, published by S...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
You May Also Like
Tyler Shields - Pill, Photography 2020, Printed After
By Tyler Shields
Located in Greenwich, CT
Series: Mouths
Chromogenic Print on Kodak Endura Luster Paper
All available sizes and editions:
18" x 18"
30" x 30"
40" x 40"
60" x 60"
70" x 70"
Editions of 3 + 2 Artist Proofs
Tyl...
Category
2010s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Luster, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print
Price Upon Request
Terry O'Neill - Faye Dunaway at the Pool, Lying Down, 1977, Printed After
By Terry O'Neill
Located in Greenwich, CT
On the morning of March 29th, 1977, an iconic image of Hollywood was born.
As Terry O’Neill remembered:
“We met a few weeks before and struck up a friendship. She was the odds-on f...
Category
1970s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print
Tyler Shields - The Girl with The Red Glove, Photography 2021, Printed After
By Tyler Shields
Located in Greenwich, CT
Series: Historical Fiction
Chromogenic Print on Kodak Endura Luster Paper
All available sizes and editions:
15" x 20"
22.5" x 30"
30" x 40"
45" x 60"
56" x 72"
63" x 84"
Editions of ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Luster, Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black a...
Elena Seated
By Jack Perno
Located in Chicago, IL
Archival Pigment Print
Edition of 25
Print size: 38 H x 30 W inches
Frame size: 54 H x 44 W inches
This piece is a digital reproduction of an original 8 x 10" polaroid that was man...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Inkjet, Polaroid
Price Upon Request
Elena Washing
By Jack Perno
Located in Chicago, IL
Archival Pigment Print
Edition of 25
Print size: 38 H x 30 W inches
Frame size: 54 H x 44 W inches
This piece is a digital reproduction of an original 8 x 10" polaroid that was man...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Inkjet, Polaroid
Price Upon Request
Tyler Shields - Semi Gloss II, Photography 2018, Printed After
By Tyler Shields
Located in Greenwich, CT
Series: Paint
Chromogenic Print on Kodak Endura Luster Paper
All available sizes and editions:
18" x 18"
30" x 30"
45" x 45"
60" x 60"
70" x 70"
Editions of 3 + 2 Artist Proofs
Tyl...
Category
2010s Contemporary Color Photography
Materials
Luster, Paper, Archival Paper, C Print