— Blue Mood (Al Mar)
2021 — 2022
Blue Mood (Al Mar) at Unseen 2022 with Galerie Ron Mandos. Photo: Michèle Margot
Blue Mood (Al Mar) delves into the emotional landscape of adolescent men, drawing inspiration from my personal memories and the stories of friends and family. It serves as a sequel to my graduation work, Come Home, and features a cast of characters whom I guide through the transformative journey into adulthood.
One of the key figures in this series is my cousin Jens, whose parents made the decision to relocate to Spain, close to the place we frequented during our childhood. Jens's presence becomes the foundation upon which the narrative unfolds, with his face often being the only face fully visible to viewers. Thus, Blue Mood (Al Mar) simultaneously becomes a personal, intimate document and a universally relatable tale.
Warm (View on Salt Mountains), 2022David in Red with Blue (Oil), 2022Derrick (Ladybug), 2022Primary Colours, 2022Tim on Fire, 2022Cross, 2021Crime Scene, 2022David in Cyan with Pink, 2022Holiday Scene IV, 2022Pink Stop (Salt), 2022Salt, 2022David, 2022Al Mar, 2021Sunburnt Car, 2022Dream, 2021Sad Vera, 2022
Having grown up in Terneuzen, a small town in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, I initially felt a longing to escape its homogeneity and conformist nature. Moving to the big city provided the freedom to embrace individuality and escape the confines of conformity. However, over time, elements from my hometown began to play a more significant role in my photography. Paradoxically, the yearning to leave was replaced by a desire to revisit and relive the experiences and memories of my past.
The visual language employed in Blue Mood (Al Mar) is reminiscent of a nostalgic visual essay, invoking a sense of yearning and reflection. The saturated colors employed in the photographs not only evoke a sense of warmth but also lend the images an aged quality, reminiscent of vintage photo albums. It serves as a conduit for fleeting memories and sensory experiences. My aim is to transport the viewer into a vivid and evocative fever dream.
Shade, 2022Jens in White with Blue, 2021Jens & Vincent (Sunburn), 2021Baby in Red, 2022Golden Hour (Asleep), 2021David with Horses, 2022Tim (Odalisque), 2022Jens Waking Up, 2022Vincent on The Beach, 2022
Works from Blue Mood (Al Mar) has been exhibited with various galleries such as 1014 Gallery in London and Josilda da Conceição Gallery in Amsterdam. A selection was also exhibited at Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, as well as being featured in several (inter)national magazines such as i-D, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and HERO Magazine. Work from this project was also selected for the Palm* Photo Prize in 2022 and presented at Unseen with Galerie Ron Mandos in the same year. Blue Mood (Al Mar) is made into a book with the help of Booooooom and Fonds Kwadraat.
If you want to read, see or hear more about this project, please click this link to request additional material.
Publication: Blue Mood (Al Mar), 2024