Magnetic Sand

It’s where we live where we feel at home. A home is an essential part of our identity and should give us a sense of safety. But what if your home is located in one of the most polluted and unhealthy areas of the Netherlands? What does it do to someone to live in such an area?

'Magnetic Sand' is about the relationship between economy and nature in the surroundings of the coastal village of Wijk aan Zee and the impact of Tata Steel's pollution on the residents of this area. It demonstrates how themes such as profit and industrialization put our living environment and our dune landscapes under pressure, a story in which we as humans are both the perpetrator and the victim.

For this project, I worked entirely with a 4x5" camera, also called 'slow photography'. With this analogue and manual way of working, the images are carefully considered and composed. By slowing down, it gives the viewer time to absorb the essence of the subject and the world around them.