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Photo series Here I Stay
- Documentation
- Brussels (BE), Copenhagen (DK), Eerbeek (NL), Kiruna (SE) & Paris (FR)
- April 2022 — September 2023
- Thanks to Fredrik AnderssonSarah Mann
This photo series depicts the relationship between humans and the city. Staged scenes in diverse urban and post-industrial landscapes expose the tension between the body and the built environment, between human presence and the abstract scale of infrastructure and industry.
The scenes unfold against the backdrop of the waste-to-energy plant Copenhill in Copenhagen, the mining town of Kiruna in Sweden, the reclaimed building materials warehouse Rotor DC in Brussels, Parc de la Villette in Paris, the housing complex and public gardens Jardins Rosa Luxemburg, the swimming platform Amterdecks in Amsterdam, the abandoned residence of the paper factory director in Eerbeek, and the self-designed, self-sufficient floating neighborhood Schoonschip in Amsterdam.
What does “urbanity” mean? By placing the physical presence of bodies and personal gestures in spaces that are usually dominated by production, technology, or vacancy, I attempt to question what the term “urbanity” actually entails. The bodies lie, rest, work, or move in environments that often seem to surpass them in scale and power. Yet it is precisely these human actions that bring the spaces to life.
During a tour of the waste disposal factory inside Copenhill I learned that the smoke that is produced is cleaned to the extent that it is of the same quality as the air that we breathe in the inner city. Reflecting onto the concept of clean air for people, I soon remembered the photos of the tuberculosis patients in their pajamas, who stayed in the mountains of Switzerland to recover
The Drift Block (Ortdrivaren) was designed by the Swedish architect Ralph Erskine. When Erskine visited the mine, he was so impressed by it, that he decided to design the balconies in the image of the elevator shafts of the mine. The housing block will not be relocated to New Kiruna, but demolished. Most residents have left
Fredrik is a local jeweler in Kiruna who is forced to close his store due to the relocation of the town. He explained to me that he refused the reimbursement that the mining company offered him, since it was too low. He is yet to hear back from them. This photo is taken on the spot of the former city hall, which has been demolished. The inside of the new city hall is entirely gold. Even though Fredrik is a jeweler, he thinks it looks ridiculous. The original clocktower from the old city hall has been transported and placed next to the new city hall in New Kiruna. Fredrik regrets that he can no longer see the clock at the edge of town. Instead It is now hidden in the valley between the new flats of New Kiruna. It makes it impossible to tell the time
This photo was taken in Parc de la Villette, which has been tailored to every sort of human desire. It is filled with many playgrounds, an amusement park, a museum, a concert hall, architectural follies and different outside gyms with a variety of devices. Only the heavy lifting has to be done with accidental urban objects
The store of Rotor DC, where they sell recycled construction materials, feels like a giant art installation. While reading about Rotor DC I found out they researched when waste is produced and what role waste plays in our society. This led me to the theory of Mary Douglas who wrote that ‘dirt is matter out of place’. It is strange to imagine the objects inside Rotor DC’s store as dirt, as they are so esthetically pleasing in place
In Eerbeek I met Carmen, whose husband had worked in one of the paper factories surrounding the small town. She told me that many people in Eerbeek complain about the pollution of the factories, the noise of the trucks and so on. She however was very grateful that her husband was employed by the factory right behind her house for so many years, providing their family with an income. This factory makes paper for tea packaging. Carmen showed me the house next door that had been abandoned. The factory’s director had lived there, but after he died, the house was squated until the beginning of 2022. The house is now empty, but since it was damaged by the squatters, its future is uncertain. This gave way for a lot of rumors in the community about how habitats are valued by the surrounding industry
The jetty Amsterdecks lies about a five minute walk into the Amsterdamse Bos in the waters called the Nieuwe Meer. The jetty is equipped with sensors that inform swimmers about the quality of the water, and even has the function to pump oxygen into the water if necessary. But it also serves as an easy passage for swimmers to access the Nieuwe Meer
When visiting the Amsterdecks I noticed how everyone changed into and from their swimming clothes without rush or shame. Sometimes the swimmers would take a moment to dry, standing fully naked in the sun. This struck me, since in the greater area of Amsterdam I have seen less and less nudity. Somehow, the idea of swimming in natural water, gives an opening to wearing your natural nude suit
These public facilities are free for everyone to use. They lower barriers: you don’t need a membership, you can go whenever you like, and no special clothing or equipment is required. In addition, outdoor sports areas serve a social function. They invite people to meet and exercise together, allowing individuals from different backgrounds to connect
Fredrik is a local jeweler in Kiruna who is forced to close his store due to the relocation of the town. He explained to me that he refused the reimbursement that the mining company offered him, since it was too low. He is yet to hear back from them. This photo is taken on the spot of the former city hall, which has been demolished. The inside of the new city hall is entirely gold. Even though Fredrik is a jeweler, he thinks it looks ridiculous. The original clocktower from the old city hall has been transported and placed next to the new city hall in New Kiruna. Fredrik regrets that he can no longer see the clock at the edge of town. Instead It is now hidden in the valley between the new flats of New Kiruna. It makes it impossible to tell the time
In Amsterdam, a community of floating homes shows the world how to live alongside nature’ is what the Washington Post wrote about the neighborhood Schoonschip. Schoonschip is beautiful and almost fully self sustainable and independent government suppliers. The residents are very lucky to live there, most of them are friends with the initiator