Avec le temps

“Met de tijd verdwijnt alles

Tussen de woorden, tussen de regels, als dwarrelende bladeren

Met de tijd verdwijnt alles

Om verder te gaan, gewoon laten gaan en het is goed”

Geïnspireerd op het lied “Avec le temps” van Léo Ferré.

Vaak heb ik het gevoel dat de tijd te snel gaat. Dat ik er gewoon nog niet klaar voor ben om los te laten. Nog niet tot een keuze kan komen. Welk pad moet ik volgen? Met de vraag komt echter nog niet meteen het antwoord. Daar zit gewoon soms wat tijd tussen, die ik dan opvul met fotografie. Fotografie als residu van de tijd.

De bladeren symboliseren mijzelf, terwijl ik mijn best doe om meer op hen te lijken; ze waaien achteloos in de wind zonder enig idee waar ze terecht zullen komen. De met potlood toegevoegde lijnen geven ruimte voor meerdere interpretaties, maar voor mij persoonlijk verbeelden ze het verstrijken van de tijd, die in de ene situatie snel kan stromen en in een andere situatie als een spinnenweb blijft plakken. Ik maakte dit project vlak voor het jaar waarin ik 50 werd en een keuze moest maken tussen de wetenschap en de fotografie. Het werd de fotografie.

Gemengde analoge en digitale technieken.

B&W PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD 2023

“Your series is a conceptual story that uses the tree leaves and their ability to let themselves be carried away by the wind without worrying about the destination as an inspiration for your attitude against difficulties. Actually, what you do is to project yourself on the leaves and wish to be like them leaving your problems and concerns free to go away. So, leaves become symbols of wisdom and a harmonic relationship with natural law. Become like leaves, is easier to be open to the unexpected and chaotic and stop trying to control everything. After all, life is not predictable and there is no complete control over it. I believe that your project not only refers to but also is created for you having an autobiographical identity. The way you leave randomness and spontaneity because of the photographic techniques you use to be part of your work could be seen as a practice of the above in your art before you use it in your life. Although photography distracts you from your problems and fills your time creatively by balancing your impatience, we can detect your struggle in the obsessive way you deal with the subject trying to repeat the same concept in various ways to make it readable and part of your dealing with the world around you. The result is artistic of course, and able to communicate a feeling of admiration for nature’s wisdom and beauty and the emergence of the order through the chaos.

All of the above gives your work subjectivity and increases its authenticity. We see here not an objective description of reality but your subjective view of it. The semi-visible lines that look like an energy field unite all elements in space and at the same time penetrate them and we could say that they represent life itself as it exists in the universe. Various kinds of lines define the variety of relationships between leaves and metaphorically, various connections and life situations. It seems that the transparent lines are a kind of personal symbol and work like an extra narrative tool. Probably is a metaphorical way to show the time and its role in crucial encounters and decisions in our lives or even a way to make reasonable the randomness of encounters and incidents in our lives.

The images are perfectly executed and composed proving your experience, commitment and your fine taste. They are fine art images with high aesthetic and technical value. The “dance” of the leaves and their relationship have grace and depth because you have managed to give human features to the way they move and react with other leaves. The lines are open to more than one interpretation and also could be seen as a continuation of the movement in time.

Sander, you are a thoughtful, creative, unconventional, and sensitive person with a vivid imagination and high aesthetic criteria who loves challenges and is not afraid to explore himself through his art. You have the background, the motivation, and the gift to create noticeable personal work and make it widely known if you continue working with the same passion and leave yourself to be visible in your work (I speak metaphorically) as you have already done. Stay faithful to your concerns and beliefs, show your personal view on reality, and never follow trends and likes. Only personal and sincere works can resist time and win a more permanent acceptance. And only a consistent photographer leaves his mark.

My engagement with your work was an exciting and pleasant experience. I wish you good luck, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from you in the future.”

— Anonymous industry professional