These five short videos examine the relationship between the female body and the camera’s gaze.
“In Scheurwater’s universe, there is hardly any room left for human warmth. The only living being that evokes a sense of pity is a dog. And the only hope that remains is the camera itself, feverishly searching for compassion in the remnants of decay.”
-- Stan van Herpen
| # | Title | Artists | Run Time | Year | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Heal Me | Hester Scheurwater | 00:03:08 | 2000 | Netherlands |
| 2 |  |
I Must Be Beautiful Too | Hester Scheurwater | 00:03:38 | 2000 | Netherlands |
| 3 |  |
Lisa | Hester Scheurwater | 00:03:29 | 2001 | Netherlands |
| 4 |  |
I Wanted You | Hester Scheurwater | 00:03:15 | 2001 | Netherlands |
| 5 |  |
Ground Floor | Hester Scheurwater | 00:07:35 | 2001 | Netherlands |
A woman is standing barefoot on a tile floor. In slow motion, the investigative camera circles around her. Her breasts are bared and liquid runs down her legs. Bit by bit, every part of her body is shown, except her face, which remains hidden behind her hair. The camera besets the woman, who remains silent.
This title is also available on Hester Scheurwater Videoworks: Volume 1.
The title gives a bitter meaning to the uneasy image of a woman who is brushing her hair over her face with fierce movements. Mostly the face remains impersonally hidden under her hair; when it is uncovered, we see how the rough scratches of the brush against the skin have smeared her lipstick.
This title is also available on Hester Scheurwater Videoworks: Volume 1.
Two women occupy one space. Without showing their faces, the camera lingers on their bodies in images that capture both from an extreme high angle. The camera distorts the female body, even creating a grotesque effect. A voice repeatedly calls for a woman: “Lisa, come here, don’t be afraid… that’s it, I won’t hurt you.” A video which explores the gaze on the female body, and the desires and violence overwhelming it.
This title is also available on Hester Scheurwater Videoworks: Volume 1.
I Wanted You shows a woman who is crawling over the floor. She is wearing only tights and a pair of red shoes with high heels. Her hair-covered face makes her an anonymous victim of the camera, which is making converging circles around her body.
This title is also available on Hester Scheurwater Videoworks: Volume 1.
A woman is lying on her back on the floor. She seems to be tied down on the ground, but she is holding her ankles with her own hands. She wears only tights and a pair of high-heeled red shoes. Her hair-covered face makes her an anonymous victim of the camera, which is making converging circles around her body.
This title is also available on Hester Scheurwater Videoworks: Volume 1.