Camille Rojas
Sothebae's

November 30–December 22, 2018
Opening: Friday, November 30th 6–8pm

ESP is pleased to present Sothebae’s, a photographic series by Camille Rojas.

Camille Rojas’ Sothebae’s takes the theatrics of an art auction as its theme. The work examines Rojas’ discomfort with the role of the auction as performance, and its use of handlers as props — people positioned next to artworks, often “for scale.” Through a series of ten photographs, Sothebae’s recreates the scenes of an auction, using parody to place emphasis on the awkward and absurd nature of these conventions. Rojas’ subjects do not pose next to artworks, rather only empty ornamental frames, their limbs contorted to be entwined within it. The habitual, static poses of the handler are taken to an inordinate and humorous level to assess the imbalance of power, labour relations, and class housed in the performance of the art auction.

The artist wishes to gratefully acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council.


Camille Rojas (b. 1993 Toronto; Lives and works in Toronto) is a multidisciplinary artist working with film, photography, and dance. She holds a BFA in Photography from Ryerson University and has recently exhibited at the Ryerson Image Centre, Gallery TPW, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.