Manon de Boer works mainly in the medium of film. The perception of time and the inspiration for creative processes are central to her work, as are the conditions of the production and reception of film. People appear in de Boer’s works through their physical or sonic presence. Their gaze is directed inward, in relation to themselves. Or it is connected to others, a space, a city, or a landscape.

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In these portrait-like films, de Boer plays with our accustomed hierarchies of sensory perception. The entirety of cultural production as well as the way we interact with each other are influenced by the weighting of the senses. We consume streaming services for music and films, and are familiar with radio, podcasts, as well as video, text, and voice messages. But are we also aware of the different levels of meaning of the respective media ? And what natural phenomena do we pay attention to ? Who are we when we must rely on ourselves, without access to electronic devices ? What thoughts and ideas develop out of this ?

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In her work, de Boer suggests that the visual and sonic levels as well as the medium itself can also be viewed as independent narratives. Moreover, she gives a special status to the voice—not only as a means of communication, but also as a political or aesthetic bearer of meaning.

The retrospective at the Kunstmuseum St.Gallen is the artist’s first presentation in Switzerland. It offers a variety of listening and viewing experiences and also includes works from the museum’s collection.