An Artist of Feminine Sensitivity and Masculine Strength

Until now, Rat Hole has exclusively hosted solo exhibitions by pure photographers, so visitors likely perceived it primarily as a photo gallery. However, Roni Horn's practice includes drawings and sculptures, transcending the definition of a photographer. In that sense, hosting her exhibition feels like we've raised the bar for the gallery.



This was my first time meeting her. I'd heard she was known as the "Iron Lady" of the art world, so I approached the meeting with a little trepidation (laughs). But she made a very good impression. She seemed to really like the gallery and its staff. Still, she is undeniably an intense presence. She possesses both the delicate sensibility of a woman and the strength of a man. Her appearance is sharp and refined, and her approach to conversation had a masculine quality—not a forceful one, but a more intellectual strength, evident in her eyes.

An Intellectual Device Beyond Photography

The works in 'This is Me, This is You' are portraits of her niece, Georgia Roy, taken between 1998 and 2000. Forty-eight portraits are arranged in a mirror-like fashion on two opposing walls. At first glance, each pair of photographs appears identical, but upon closer inspection, they are subtly different, captured at slightly different moments in time. To achieve this display, Horn deliberately chose not to use the main wall of Rat Hole, opting instead for two side walls. This approach also moves beyond the conventions of a typical photography exhibition.



Although the photographs themselves are portraits of a single girl, as you stand in the middle of the space and turn your head, alternating your gaze between the walls, you begin to question the very nature of portraiture. You're no longer just looking at photographs; you're contemplating the form of what you're seeing. This is precisely the "intelligent device" she has engineered. She was particularly intrigued by this space, with its glass facade offering a view from the outside in. Observing visitors engaging with her setup through the glass transforms the entire space into a different kind of artwork. Her concept and this venue were a perfect match. Watching from outside, I even considered how interesting it would be to film the scene for an extended period.