“Wunderkamera #5,” by Marco Sanges.

Marco Sange’s “Wunderkamera by Sanges” body of work is inspired by Max Ernst and the Surrealist movement. His iconic photography has been inspired by the sequential nature of cinema, in particular the luminous black-and-white films of the silent era. Every sequence tells a highly personal and multi-layered story. Seeking inspiration from Surrealism and the visual performing arts of the ’20s and ’30s, Sanges’ work traces a narrative of imagination and desire. There is also an enchanting yet dark side to his work, an intriguing depth that appears to be destined to highlight the drama of life.

Sanges is attracted in particular to the luminous black-and-white films of the silent era and creates photographs in sequence that are narrative based, enigmatic and evoke a feeling of mystery and the sense of a sensual, uncanny world just out of grasp.

A magnification of imagination, the surrealistic nature of this work represents the liberation of the unconscious, as a means to create art outside the boundaries of official culture, the rejection of established values and a concrete effort to illustrate extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasy worlds, all elements typical of outside art. This is the work of an artist who is passionate about life in its entirety and continues to evoke, transcend and excite the world.

His work is featured in the most recent issue of MMPA Antidote, which can be viewed online at http://www.mainemuseumofphotographicarts.org.

In response to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and local closings, the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland began creating the online series MMPA Antidote, which publishes biweekly and includes photographic artwork, audio interviews, and artist statements and reflections from Maine artists, aimed to serve as inspiration during times of isolation.

Investigate the links, share the images, and send some of your own to contact.mmpa@gmail.com.