from the series ‘The Architecture of the Homeless  People’ ; Antwerp, Belgium, September 2017

From the series ‘The Architecture of the Homeless People’ ; Antwerp, Belgium, September 2017

From the series ‘The Architecture of the Homeless People’ ; Antwerp, Belgium, September 2017

DARKNESS WALK

a walk from dusk till dawn during the longest night of the year

sunset at 16.39 h                         sunrise at 8.43 h

( = 16h 04 min of darkness)                                                                                             

Taking a photo at the exact moment of sunset and sunrise                                 

From Dendermonde to Sinaai, Belgium,  21-22 December 2006

Examples of small booklets I took with me whilst photographing homeless people and talking to them (1999 -2012). The people liked seeing the photos afterwards and I also made prints as a gift. The small pictures (so called ‘contactprints’) were used as an example so people could see what kind of photowork I was making. It gave them confidence and made me a person who could be trusted upon, especially when I returned giving the photos as promised. Often people recognized other homeless people they knew so we quickly could share stories. The photos work now as well as an archive because lot of the people photographed have died over the years. I think nearly 10% percent of them is still alive.

While walking a shadow in a straight line, having an encounter with two other men who walk and draw a line

Antwerp, March 17th 2016

Walking a shadow in a straight line # 2. Taking a photo in the beginning and at the end. 291 steps, Antwerp, March 17th 2016, 9.22 am > 9.25 am. 

Walking a shadow in a straight line # 1. Taking a photo in the beginning and at the ending. 84 steps, Antwerp, March 17th 2016, 9.18 am > 9.19 am. 

Opening "ontheemd - 150 years of social photography" , Maagdenhuismuseum, Antwerp.

Showing work of Bert Danckaert, Luc Delaheye, Alexander Erofeev, Seba Kurtis, Boris Mikhailov, Stef Renodeyn, Fazal Sheikh, Franklin Van Hees, Diane Arbus, Roger Ballen, Anthony Hernandez and more

from 13/12/2014 till 28/06/2015

www.maagdenhuismuseum.be

working on groupshow 'Ontheemd -- 150 years of social photography' in Maagdenhuismuseum, Antwerp. From myself some of the most early work will presented as well photos taken only a few months ago.

Opening upcoming Friday December 12th

www.maagdenhuismuseum.be 

 Upcoming groupshow called 'Ontheemd' (transl. : "homeless, displaced") in which I participate.

In an overview of 150 years of social photography starting with Roger Fenton's ' The Valley of the shadow of death' (approx 1855) and including work of Ceba Kurtis, Boris Mikhailov, Fazal Sheikh, Diane Arbus, Henri C Bresson and many others , the photos are brought into dialogue with the historic interior and paintings in the museum.  

13/12/2014 till 28/06/2015, Maagdenhuismuseum, Antwerp

www.maagdenhuismuseum.be

from the series 'The Architecture of the Homeless People', Antwerp, Belgium, November 2014

from the series 'the architecture of the homeless people', Antwerp, Belgium, November 2014

In 1999 I started taking photos of homeless people and their ‘habitats’ in the city of Antwerp, Belgium.

Very quickly I learned when getting involved in such a topic one has to do it profoundly, with empathy and patience and by learning that photography isn’t only about gaining the trophy of a good picture. This lesson came up to me almost 'the hard way' : at a certain moment I wanted to take a photo of drunk sleeping man on a bench. He was sitting right up. But at the moment I pointed my camera a big man stood up and threatened to punch me. "This is my friend" he said. 

Most days I took only a few pictures with my rolleiflex. The other hours I spend listening to stories, walking and wandering around, trying to know these people better or simply taking place on someone’s begging spot to feel the skittish looks of people walking by.  

I made portraits as well pictures of the places where these people live : squatted houses, sleeping places, etc.  I started tot know more people, both homeless people and people from organisations and street workers.

From 2008 on I started to work also in colour and restricted the project to documenting the ‘landscapes’.  

Pictures here shown are made in the period 1999 - 2004 and are part of the book 'De mens die ik ben' (Roularta books, 2007) 

dismantled shelter of homeless people ; from the series 'The Architecture of the Homeless People', Antwerp, Belgium, November 2014

Walking a shadow in a straight line, not clear where the end is (covered in shadow of a tree).

Taking a photo in the beginning and the end.

35 steps, approx 1 minute, November 11th 2014, Antwerp, Belgium

Walking a shadow in a straight line.

Taking a photo in the beginning and at the end.

136 steps, October 25th 2014, 12.16 pm > 12.21 pm, Oostende, Belgium