La Machine
Phelim Hoey
Autonomy and independence are considered important in our society, and often form a big part of one’s identity. In my case, after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, it’s no longer self-evident that my body carries out certain actions – however simple these actions might seem. These experiences can lead to alienation, fear and an instrumental vision towards the body. Without the certainty that a functioning body offers, identity is also compromised. Who I am, and how the disease influences my identity, is explored within this project.
Phelim Hoey (b. 1984) is an Amsterdam-based visual artist, who studied documentary photography at the School of the Arts in Utrecht, the Netherlands. In his first days at art school, Hoey experienced the early symptoms of MS, a neurological illness with which he was formally diagnosed a few months later. His practice took on new meaning as a possible agent of healing, offering an important creative outlet for studying his condition, and for tracing his ever-changing relationship to his body. Incorporating a varied range of media – photography, film, ceramics or sculptural installation – Hoey’s work can be read as a form of conceptual storytelling. In fragile materials, or delicate still-lives depicting precariously-balanced objects, his works are wrought with vulnerability and tension. Hoey’s images have featured in a range of publications, including Foam Magazine, The British Journal of Photography and LensCulture.
Website: www.phelim-hoey.nl
Instagram: phelimhoey