GRACHTENMUSEUM / MUSEUM OF THE CANALS
Visualising the fragility of canal walls and structures in Amsterdam’s historic centreThe Amsterdam-based Museum of the Canals (Grachtenmuseum) commissioned me to visualise the vulnerable state of Amsterdam’s historic canal walls and quay structures, in an exhibition titled ‘Amsterdam is Crumbling’. The objective was to tell this story through several locations along the canals and document how repair works and temporary constructions affect the daily life of residents, tourists, passers-by and animals in the historic centre.
For each location, a photographic sequence had to be produced. Together, the series and exhibition were intended to highlight the tension between beauty and safety, and between nature and technology in Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canal district.
My role
︎Planning and coordinating the photography across seven locations in Amsterdam to ensure all images were captured in time
︎Documenting how people and animals make use of the temporary spaces, revealing the everyday impact of the reconstruction works︎Documenting how traffic and local businesses are affected by daily construction works and logistical constraints
︎Visual storytelling: building a coherent narrative through image sequences that capture different aspects of each location
︎Selection and editing: working closely with the museum to curate photographs that collectively tell the story of the fragile state of the historic center
Outcome
︎ A photographic exhibition at the Museum of the Canals, combining the images with an audio experience to create a multi-sensory narrative︎ A well-attended opening event, and later on the exhibition was even extended
︎ Media coverage of the exhibition, including an article in Amsterdam’s newspaper Het Parool
