On seeing and being seen
On photographing and being photographed
with and by Anna and Maria Ritsch
—————— RITSCH SISTERS
Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognizes before it can speak.
But there is also another sense in which seeing comes before words.
It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world; we explain that world with words, but words can never undo the fact that we are surrounded by it. The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled.
(John Berger, ‘Ways of Seeing’)
As true as this might be
They hang together
Like being lifted out
Shaped by surrounding
words
As good as
Consensual humor
Minimal interventions
Beyond or below
Need to reflect
If it takes itself seriously
Tickled by ideas
If you like to
We can argue
My thoughts turn towards
Are you asking me to
Find opportunities to imagine
Moments to perform
Am I free enough yet?
Possibilities
and deferred dreams
It has become a place of
collaborating in silence
Anna + Maria Ritsch are Sisters who work
together as an Artist and Photography Duo.
Born and raised in Austria, they work together
internationally between Europe and New York.
Styling by Haidee Findlay-Levin. Hair by Junya Nakashima. Makeup by Kuma.