Rineke Dijkstra, Selected Works (Installation View), all images courtesy Marian Goodman Gallery Paris
On view at Marian Goodman’s Paris exhibition space is the third exhibition from Dutch photographer and filmmaker Rineke Dijkstra, composed of of two new videos filmed in Russia.  Dijkstra became internationally known for her beach portraits of teenagers on the beaches of South Carolina, Poland, and Ukraine during the 1990’s, but she has also been producing lesser-known video portraits since 1996. The videos on display here, focusing on young ballerinas, were commissioned by Manifesta (European Biennial of Contemporary Art) for its most recent edition in 2014.
Rineke Dijkstra, Selected Works (Installation View)
The works are entitled Marianna (The Fairy Doll) and The Gymschool, St. Petersburg. The Fairy Doll depicts a young classical dancer during a working session, as she prepares for an audition at the prestigious Vaganova ballet academy.  As is the dream of millions of very young Russian girls, this girl wants very dearly to become a professional ballerina, and the film depicts her determination in equal measure with her fragility and vulnerability. The contrast between perfection and the dancer’s occasional small mistakes becomes the overriding theme as the film progresses.
Rineke Dijkstra, The Gymschool, St. Petersburg (still) (2014)
The Gymschool focuses on a similar physical exertion, acted out by young, aspiring dancers. Dijkstra became fascinated with the skills of young girls practicing rhythmic gymnastics, a sport born in the USSR in the 40’s. The gymnasts are trained to conceal their emotions, and the only time we can see them break this controlled facade is when they make a mistake in the choreography.  Between the two works, Dijkstra offers a strong comparison between the rigid perfection of the performers’ crafts, and the occasional human imperfections that occasionally get in the way, causing even more human emotional responses.  Dijkstra is also interested in the works as mirrors, emphasizing her subjects’ awareness of being filmed, and making each of their few mistakes even more noticeable. The girls try their hardest not to let their guard down, but inevitably do, creating moments of humility that bump up against the pride and determination their art is built upon.
Rineke Dijkstra, Selected Works (Installation View)
Dijkstra was born in 1959 in Sitard, The Netherlands, and currently lives in Amsterdam. Her work has appeared in international exhibitions and biennials since 1993. A retrospective of her work was organized in 2013 by the Guggenheim Museum, New York and the SF-MoMA, San Francisco. Â The exhibition at Marian Goodman Gallery Paris will remain on view through February 21, 2015.
Rineke Dijkstra, Selected Works (Installation View)
Rineke Dijkstra, Selected Works (Installation View)
— E. Baker
Related Links:
Exhibition Page [Galerie Marian Goodman]
