2023

Work in progress

2012-17

A culmination of previous projects, Mader documents Romain’s trip to the city of Ekaterina, where he seeks his future wife. This imaginary city in Ukraine is mysteriously populated only by women, all named Ekaterina, each hoping to find a rich western husband. In an utterly naïve narration by Romain about his search for the one and only Ekaterina, a series of stereotypes take the stage, from Mader performing as an oblivious western sex tourist, to interchangeable Ukrainian brides, up to the “typical” Soviet backdrop of the whole quest for love. The gap between preconceived ideas about a place like Ukraine and its reality is what is constantly exploited to the point of absurdity in Mader’s work. In a photographic language that perfectly employs the conventions of documentary photography, the confusion between what is fictitious and what’s real – or what seems real – ultimately arises as a goal in itself.

Text Mirjam Kooiman

Limited Edition of 750
204 Pages
15.5 X 21 cm
ISBN: 978-1-907071-68-3

2011

For his series De Nouveaux Amis, Romain went to the beach of Deauville, France, all by himself. While small groups of vacationers appropriate their own piece of beach for the day, Romain tries to blend into their private sphere. By chatting a while with his chance acquaintances and by mimicking their poses, he slowly integrates himself into the group. Although he familiarizes himself by adapting to those around him and effectively adopts a place in their personal space, he still stands out somehow. His effort to make new friends marks the thin line between belonging and exclusion.

Text Mirjam Kooiman

2009

Fascinated by the phenomenon of expensive cars being advertised with beautiful women, Romain poses with the hostesses at the Geneva car show. Like in a furniture catalogue, where the chair is shown in a pretty setting, each car is promoted with the matching perfect woman. Somehow, the dream of a nice car goes hand in hand with the dream of a beautiful woman next to it. Romain’s attempt to impress his friends by posing in front of the shiny cars and beautiful women foster a sense of uncomfortable unease. This series underlies the question of why it is relevant to use the female body to sell objects. Moi avec des filles is the first of a series of works where Mader uses Romain as a character enacting others. By doing so, Mader uses his body to mimic the actions of men he previously saw during this type of events when he was younger.

Text Mirjam Kooiman