The temperament of Kelm’s images and the particular framing of the things she photographs appear tightly composed and highly considered, yet they also harness the ability to remain completely ambiguous. Her images merge seemingly disparate content, and this is true even of her apparently clearest-cut work depicting people, as seen in this exhibition. Such uncertainty is Kelm’s unique trait and one which elicits a consideration of the significance of the subjects themselves.

While the works’ various contextual and historical references appear to eschew any singular readings in regard to both theme and concept, together they come to question the depiction, presentation and representation of images. Although Kelm’s work stays true to the traditional understanding of photography – the primary medium that transports her ideas – it also infers the sculptural; in this way her practice could be understood as a delicate process of choreography.

Annette Kelm was born in Stuttgart in 1975, and lives and works in Berlin. Solo exhibitions of her work have included those that have taken place at Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo (2013); Johann König, Berlin (2012); Marc Foxx, LA (2012); Presentation House, Vancouver (2012) and Andrew Kreps, New York (2010).