Warmer Than the Sun

Warmer than the Sun by Elise Corten is a deeply intimate analogue photographic exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. Over an extended period, Corten documents her mother through portraits and still life imagery, revealing moments of closeness, dialogue, and mutual discovery. The work navigates the delicate balance between personal and universal experience, portraying the mother not solely as a parental figure but as an individual with her own identity, desires, and transformations. Through daily rituals and tender observations, Corten captures both the physical and emotional changes experienced by her mother, while simultaneously reflecting on her own perspective as a daughter and photographer. The resulting visual narrative is at once sensual, empathetic, and candid, offering viewers an immersive insight into the complexities of maternal intimacy.
Previous essays by art historian Lise De Ganck contextualise the series within contemporary photographic and conceptual practices, emphasising its significance in exploring family, identity, and the passage of time. Featured internationally in publications such as Lenscratch, Analog Magazine, and Photobook Journal, Warmer than the Sun is a compelling work for photography lovers, curators, and readers, especially mums and daughters, interested in contemporary portraiture, autobiographical art, and visual storytelling.

Text in English, Dutch and French.