Post-war Housing

In 1985 the photographer Theo Baart and myself were individually invited by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam for their yearly photo-assignment, an initiative established in 1974 by the legendary Wim Vroom, to document aspects of Dutch society through the medium of photography.

Theo and I did not know each other but while working on the project we found our interests and expression somehow complementary. Subject of the assignment was 'Post-War Housing in the Netherlands'. Theo, born in the Netherlands, had a broad cultural knowledge of the country while for me the assignment was about discovering the Netherlands.

The final result of the project was that of a compromise to me, due to it being initiated by an assignment which was a new experience, as well as it being supervised by a overly self-conscious committee which had a too big impact on the working process and the final selection of photographs.

I was the first photographer using color photographs and serial imagery in the series which was not really appreciated by the committee.  After some discussions I managed to include a sponsored 1 by 3 meter Cibachrome slide in a light-box in the show.  A catalog was published (Fragment, 1986) designed by Fred Struving.