TOBIAS NAP
Under the umbrella of Nap studio, I mainly use photography and moving image to explore the city landscape. By observing our behaviour in public spaces (particularly in Amsterdam, the city I call home). I want to amplify and capture what I encounter to be surreal, particularly the way humans collectively navigate in a neoliberal society.
My work often starts from a personal experience and expands to reflect broader cultural or societal patterns, balancing the micro and macro perspectives. And by doing so I question the individual autonomy of myself and others. Photography helps me understand the passage of time, asking what defines the time we live in and what might come to hold significance in the future. The camera is a tool for met to conduct visual research and collect information.
How did I get here / What inspires me
Craftsmanship and physicality are key elements in my work, whether by props, installations or the post-production process. My method of working often involves the act of collecting. By mostly addressing the topics that are strongly connected to the mainstream, I aim to create a sense of awareness with the viewer, recognising one’s own behaviour in relation to the collective.