With a flair for arranging colors, shapes and thoughts into strong visual ideas, it’s no surprise that the still lifes of Tabea Mathern are more than just posed objects – they’re objects that unfold narratives. Her surreal compositions transform the ordinary into conceptual artworks which border on playful and absurd.
With a keen eye for detail, she brings surprising materials and elements together in a single frame to create a cohesive, sculptural image — and nothing, it seems, is by chance or accident. “I love all the details,” she says about her work. “I embrace every part of the process and am well aware of all the steps it takes to turn an idea into a concept and an actual piece of work.” Viewers are invited to draw their own conclusions from her elaborate arrangements: cabbages posing as birthday cakes, flower bouquets held up by rolls of tape, or a poignant portrait of a woman staring at liquor glasses. With her uncanny ability to draw out something relateable from randomness, Mathern’s vision is a captivating one.
The work of the Berlin-based visual artist has appeared in exhibits worldwide and in publications and projects for various clients and partners, including Der Spiegel, Etsy, Art Toronto, Ö Magazin and many more. Discover more on her website and Instagram.
Look back on other still life features here.
Images © Tabea Mathern / with permission