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‘Son, this is your home’ second prize Keep an Eye Fotovakschool Grant

‘Son, this is your home’ second prize Keep an Eye Fotovakschool Grant

On November 5 2015, I pitched my 2016 photography project ‘Son, this is your home’ (working title) to the judges of the Keep an Eye Fotovakschool Grant 2015, which consisted of Ellen Dosse, Theo Audenaerd and Ahmet Polat.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Fotovakschool, now also known as the University of Applied Photography. Along with it, a Graduation Show was held, selecting 60 out of 400+ graduation projects to showcase in from October 22 to 25 2015 in the Amsterdam branche. The school also collaborated with the Keep an Eye Foundation, which supports creative people and projects. In order to compete in the Keep an Eye Fotovakschool Grant 2015, the graduates have to write a plan of what they want to do. Some chose to continue their graduation project, some chose something different. However, the most important question is not what you want to do, but WHY you want to do the project and for whom is this of interest.

Out of 30 submitted projects, 10 were nominated to take part in the final round: Presenting the project to the judges and the public in Pakhuis De Zwijger. Along with nine fellow graduates, I was nominated.

Teaser for 'Son, this is your home'

Teaser for ‘Son, this is your home’

My project ‘Son, this is your home’ comes from my personal desire to get back to my roots and explore the village my father was born and grew up. Doing so I can create my own memories and I will have something to pass down to the next generation. To me, identity is an important part of your life. It helps to find your place in this world. I hope to inspire not only my own sons, but people of my generation to explore our own roots and hopefully to not forget who we truly are.

This project won second prize and was awarded € 2000 to support me in my endeavor to start this mission. The first prize was awarded to my fellow student and friend, Misha Piperic for this project ‘Bosnian Dreams’. The third prize also went to a fellow student and friend, Annemoon van Hemel for the project ‘Geraakt door water, portretten van dijkgraven’.

Photo on top: Ton Hendriks/PF.nl