Bezoek aan een dorp 1927 - 1931

These images are mounted onto a page in an album, maybe with glue. I see a group of black and white photographs, showing visits to a village with local people. There is a fascinating dialogue going on here, between the photographer and the person being photographed. What was that relationship? What were the photographer’s intentions? Was it a colonial encounter, or something more benign? I think about the process of image-making, this capturing of moments in time, a process of selection and framing that is both subjective and loaded with meaning. I am curious about the power dynamics inherent in the act of photographing people. What are the ethics involved in representing others, and how do we navigate the complexities of cultural exchange and representation? We are all in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas across time, and inspiring one another’s creativity.