Press "Enter" to skip to content

Reflecting my community through photography | Diewke van den Heuvel | TEDxEindhoven


just had to move a lot now you have to

just had to move a lot now you have to sit still because I’m taking take a

sit still because I’m taking take a

sit still because I’m taking take a picture of you guys my audience so

picture of you guys my audience so

picture of you guys my audience so still hold tight

still hold tight

still hold tight that’s what it yeah now I need a clicker

that’s what it yeah now I need a clicker

that’s what it yeah now I need a clicker I know I couldn’t tell I wasn’t focusing

I know I couldn’t tell I wasn’t focusing

I know I couldn’t tell I wasn’t focusing on all the faces well let me start his

on all the faces well let me start his

on all the faces well let me start his talk by telling you how I grew up and

talk by telling you how I grew up and

talk by telling you how I grew up and how I came here to stand in front of you

how I came here to stand in front of you

how I came here to stand in front of you okay yeah here so first I grew up in a

okay yeah here so first I grew up in a

okay yeah here so first I grew up in a very nice and warm gentle environment

very nice and warm gentle environment

very nice and warm gentle environment Waldorf School everything was soft and

Waldorf School everything was soft and

Waldorf School everything was soft and ever there was an environment close to

ever there was an environment close to

ever there was an environment close to the river lots of nature all green and

the river lots of nature all green and

the river lots of nature all green and very creative so we did a lot of

very creative so we did a lot of

very creative so we did a lot of creative things and then if you look

creative things and then if you look

creative things and then if you look closely or really good you can see me

closely or really good you can see me

closely or really good you can see me sitting on the ground on your left with

sitting on the ground on your left with

sitting on the ground on your left with the big smile and I think I was four

the big smile and I think I was four

the big smile and I think I was four years old or something back there and I

years old or something back there and I

years old or something back there and I still see a lot of these people my

still see a lot of these people my

still see a lot of these people my classmates back then and I even speak

classmates back then and I even speak

classmates back then and I even speak with my teacher Erica

so this gentle environment really for my

so this gentle environment really for my base of creativity and after school I

base of creativity and after school I

base of creativity and after school I started my career as a dancer

that is workout due to back problems so

that is workout due to back problems so I was looking into my curriculum

I was looking into my curriculum

I was looking into my curriculum thinking what to study next

thinking what to study next

thinking what to study next I was only dancing in my life and I

I was only dancing in my life and I

I was only dancing in my life and I thought well let’s study geography

thought well let’s study geography

thought well let’s study geography because I’m interested in the world so

because I’m interested in the world so

because I’m interested in the world so let’s do that I did it for two years and

let’s do that I did it for two years and

let’s do that I did it for two years and do two internships I came into these

do two internships I came into these

do two internships I came into these rooms of teachers and artists was like I

rooms of teachers and artists was like I

rooms of teachers and artists was like I don’t want to be in this kind of

don’t want to be in this kind of

don’t want to be in this kind of environment with these old grumpy people

environment with these old grumpy people

environment with these old grumpy people doing the same the rest of the life so I

doing the same the rest of the life so I

doing the same the rest of the life so I decided I had to do something creative

decided I had to do something creative

decided I had to do something creative again I couldn’t draw I couldn’t paint

again I couldn’t draw I couldn’t paint

again I couldn’t draw I couldn’t paint so I decided let’s start e photography

so I decided let’s start e photography

so I decided let’s start e photography who cannot push a button right so I went

who cannot push a button right so I went

who cannot push a button right so I went to the city just go to our school and

to the city just go to our school and

to the city just go to our school and when I came to the city I was still

when I came to the city I was still

when I came to the city I was still discovering myself and who I was what I

discovering myself and who I was what I

discovering myself and who I was what I wanted to do in my life and I was got

wanted to do in my life and I was got

wanted to do in my life and I was got really really inspired by all these

really really inspired by all these

really really inspired by all these colors in the streets all the different

colors in the streets all the different

colors in the streets all the different foods you could eat you could choose

foods you could eat you could choose

foods you could eat you could choose from all these kinds of different things

from all these kinds of different things

from all these kinds of different things I’ve never seen before so the buzz in

I’ve never seen before so the buzz in

I’ve never seen before so the buzz in the city or it was amazing because the

the city or it was amazing because the

the city or it was amazing because the city was always going on never stops

city was always going on never stops

city was always going on never stops always something to do and I was just

always something to do and I was just

always something to do and I was just amazed by all these colors you could

amazed by all these colors you could

amazed by all these colors you could find everywhere and I was amazed by how

find everywhere and I was amazed by how

find everywhere and I was amazed by how different people could live like these

different people could live like these

different people could live like these people living on a boat so it really

people living on a boat so it really

people living on a boat so it really energized me to look differently where I

energized me to look differently where I

energized me to look differently where I came to live in this place it made an

came to live in this place it made an

came to live in this place it made an amazing place so I went to art school

amazing place so I went to art school

amazing place so I went to art school and started photography there and I was

and started photography there and I was

and started photography there and I was just playing around figuring out what

just playing around figuring out what

just playing around figuring out what photography means what does this 2d

photography means what does this 2d

photography means what does this 2d image what does it mean I was making

image what does it mean I was making

image what does it mean I was making installations in front of the camera and

installations in front of the camera and

installations in front of the camera and then taking pictures of it so what was

then taking pictures of it so what was

then taking pictures of it so what was happening in front of camera changes

happening in front of camera changes

happening in front of camera changes when you see 2d you get another reality

when you see 2d you get another reality

when you see 2d you get another reality I was putting things upside down just to

I was putting things upside down just to

I was putting things upside down just to see if things will start floating or

see if things will start floating or

see if things will start floating or drop down finding all these toys in toy

drop down finding all these toys in toy

drop down finding all these toys in toy stores I was playing with reality what

stores I was playing with reality what

stores I was playing with reality what happens if you put somebody in water

happens if you put somebody in water

happens if you put somebody in water this is my sister she’s not dead by the

this is my sister she’s not dead by the

this is my sister she’s not dead by the way

way

way still life so playing around with this

still life so playing around with this

still life so playing around with this creativity finding out how you could

creativity finding out how you could

creativity finding out how you could make your own reality this is a

make your own reality this is a

make your own reality this is a landscape with painted balloons putting

landscape with painted balloons putting

landscape with painted balloons putting in to the landscape at a certain point

in to the landscape at a certain point

in to the landscape at a certain point of the day driving with a car – those

of the day driving with a car – those

of the day driving with a car – those bulbs putting light on and then you

bulbs putting light on and then you

bulbs putting light on and then you create this kind of different world and

create this kind of different world and

create this kind of different world and here this really happened the ceiling

here this really happened the ceiling

here this really happened the ceiling came down put it upside down again found

came down put it upside down again found

came down put it upside down again found some weird stuff in the place in the toy

some weird stuff in the place in the toy

some weird stuff in the place in the toy store playing with shadows if you make

store playing with shadows if you make

store playing with shadows if you make something flat or how does something

something flat or how does something

something flat or how does something stay stay 3d how does it work so with

stay stay 3d how does it work so with

stay stay 3d how does it work so with this external eye you can change how you

this external eye you can change how you

this external eye you can change how you pursue perceive how you perceive your

pursue perceive how you perceive your

pursue perceive how you perceive your own reality this is me of course so

own reality this is me of course so

own reality this is me of course so there was a really big change for me how

there was a really big change for me how

there was a really big change for me how you could look at your own world

you could look at your own world

you could look at your own world I graduated in 2005 stayed in the city

I graduated in 2005 stayed in the city

I graduated in 2005 stayed in the city for a few more years and then went to

for a few more years and then went to

for a few more years and then went to the South foreland close by where we are

the South foreland close by where we are

the South foreland close by where we are right now for love and came to live in

right now for love and came to live in

right now for love and came to live in this satellite city where you could

this satellite city where you could

this satellite city where you could raise your average Dutch family with two

raise your average Dutch family with two

raise your average Dutch family with two point six kids and 1.3 dogs so I came

point six kids and 1.3 dogs so I came

point six kids and 1.3 dogs so I came into the city and I was not feeling at

into the city and I was not feeling at

into the city and I was not feeling at home I felt judged because I was this

home I felt judged because I was this

home I felt judged because I was this city girl with a city accent everybody

city girl with a city accent everybody

city girl with a city accent everybody looking weird of me because I’m this

looking weird of me because I’m this

looking weird of me because I’m this artist or something and it was boring

artist or something and it was boring

artist or something and it was boring there were not colors in the streets

there were not colors in the streets

there were not colors in the streets there was no different food he only

there was no different food he only

there was no different food he only could go to one store and get the food

could go to one store and get the food

could go to one store and get the food they had so this bored nurse

they had so this bored nurse

they had so this bored nurse well I was really unhappy I was really

well I was really unhappy I was really

well I was really unhappy I was really lonely couldn’t go for a coffee that

lonely couldn’t go for a coffee that

lonely couldn’t go for a coffee that quickly with friends or just have these

quickly with friends or just have these

quickly with friends or just have these visits but the one thing the one thing

visits but the one thing the one thing

visits but the one thing the one thing that was really really great

that was really really great

that was really really great well I think the most beautiful thing in

well I think the most beautiful thing in

well I think the most beautiful thing in my world is that my son was born there

my world is that my son was born there

my world is that my son was born there and I started taking picture of him of

and I started taking picture of him of

and I started taking picture of him of course he was my best model really close

course he was my best model really close

course he was my best model really close by and by making pictures of people I

by and by making pictures of people I

by and by making pictures of people I found out that I was pretty good at it

found out that I was pretty good at it

found out that I was pretty good at it and made more portraits of people I

and made more portraits of people I

and made more portraits of people I never did it before

never did it before

never did it before I was only using people as props or as a

I was only using people as props or as a

I was only using people as props or as a standing in my pictures and I was making

standing in my pictures and I was making

standing in my pictures and I was making these portraits and it wasn’t people

these portraits and it wasn’t people

these portraits and it wasn’t people people were very happy with getting

people were very happy with getting

people were very happy with getting these pictures so it was like whoa okay

these pictures so it was like whoa okay

these pictures so it was like whoa okay I can do this but I was still living in

I can do this but I was still living in

I can do this but I was still living in his boredom

his boredom

his boredom boring place nothing happening so my

boring place nothing happening so my

boring place nothing happening so my life became really really static and I

life became really really static and I

life became really really static and I decided to do something about it

decided to do something about it

decided to do something about it and moved to the city again I moved to

and moved to the city again I moved to

and moved to the city again I moved to where we are right now in Eindhoven I

where we are right now in Eindhoven I

where we are right now in Eindhoven I moved to step s and so I came back into

moved to step s and so I came back into

moved to step s and so I came back into the city that is really vibrant piece of

the city that is really vibrant piece of

the city that is really vibrant piece of ain’t open ain’t joven felt a life all

ain’t open ain’t joven felt a life all

ain’t open ain’t joven felt a life all the design all the new technologies all

the design all the new technologies all

the design all the new technologies all the people from all over the world

the people from all over the world

the people from all over the world coming to live here settle down I think

coming to live here settle down I think

coming to live here settle down I think we have like 160 nationalities or

we have like 160 nationalities or

we have like 160 nationalities or something so everything was cool again

something so everything was cool again

something so everything was cool again and the blush blood was rushing through

and the blush blood was rushing through

and the blush blood was rushing through my veins again I was inspired and I came

my veins again I was inspired and I came

my veins again I was inspired and I came to live in anthem the white building on

to live in anthem the white building on

to live in anthem the white building on your right and it came in this community

your right and it came in this community

your right and it came in this community I was welcomed with open arms and a very

I was welcomed with open arms and a very

I was welcomed with open arms and a very short amount of time I got to know a lot

short amount of time I got to know a lot

short amount of time I got to know a lot a lot of people my neighbors and I

a lot of people my neighbors and I

a lot of people my neighbors and I decided just to go for coffee have long

decided just to go for coffee have long

decided just to go for coffee have long long talks and take portraits make

long talks and take portraits make

long talks and take portraits make portraits of them this is Hank

portraits of them this is Hank

portraits of them this is Hank this first one I took pictures of he’s

this first one I took pictures of he’s

this first one I took pictures of he’s the one do neighbor who lives beneath me

the one do neighbor who lives beneath me

the one do neighbor who lives beneath me and he reminded me a lot of my father

and he reminded me a lot of my father

and he reminded me a lot of my father because he’s also an artist and a

because he’s also an artist and a

because he’s also an artist and a musician so the connection was really

musician so the connection was really

musician so the connection was really easily made and I wouldn’t have been

easily made and I wouldn’t have been

easily made and I wouldn’t have been taking picture of him on the roof this

taking picture of him on the roof this

taking picture of him on the roof this is on the roof for and around the

is on the roof for and around the

is on the roof for and around the building where he helps out people just

building where he helps out people just

building where he helps out people just well I sort of followed him a little and

well I sort of followed him a little and

well I sort of followed him a little and I’ve been doing this for three years now

I’ve been doing this for three years now

I’ve been doing this for three years now more than two years and at this time I

more than two years and at this time I

more than two years and at this time I think I’ve taken picture of 80 people 80

think I’ve taken picture of 80 people 80

think I’ve taken picture of 80 people 80 of my neighbors

of my neighbors

of my neighbors this is Tess on Alex Appian honey

this is Tess on Alex Appian honey

this is Tess on Alex Appian honey Barbera Hanukkah Carlo Matane Yosef

Barbera Hanukkah Carlo Matane Yosef

Barbera Hanukkah Carlo Matane Yosef femke and through his years it came more

femke and through his years it came more

femke and through his years it came more and more and more and I was lately lady

and more and more and I was lately lady

and more and more and I was lately lady I was focusing on this project really

I was focusing on this project really

I was focusing on this project really hard and putting up all these portraits

hard and putting up all these portraits

hard and putting up all these portraits of all these people on a wall just to

of all these people on a wall just to

of all these people on a wall just to see who they are and something struck me

see who they are and something struck me

see who they are and something struck me I was looking at these pictures I was ok

I was looking at these pictures I was ok

I was looking at these pictures I was ok I see man

I see man

I see man I see women I see old people I see young

I see women I see old people I see young

I see women I see old people I see young people I see I see even kids except for

people I see I see even kids except for

people I see I see even kids except for my own son I see people would red hair

my own son I see people would red hair

my own son I see people would red hair dark hair all these differences but what

dark hair all these differences but what

dark hair all these differences but what I don’t see a lot of people from Africa

I don’t see a lot of people from Africa

I don’t see a lot of people from Africa know people from Suriname I don’t see

know people from Suriname I don’t see

know people from Suriname I don’t see people with a Moroccan background so

people with a Moroccan background so

people with a Moroccan background so there was like this moment for me that I

there was like this moment for me that I

there was like this moment for me that I could really reflect on my own community

could really reflect on my own community

could really reflect on my own community I went to the city to be poured into

I went to the city to be poured into

I went to the city to be poured into this buzz of hundred and sixty

this buzz of hundred and sixty

this buzz of hundred and sixty nationalities and by doing this Siri I

nationalities and by doing this Siri I

nationalities and by doing this Siri I could see my own community and see that

could see my own community and see that

could see my own community and see that that was not happening there so with

that was not happening there so with

that was not happening there so with this external I again I could change how

this external I again I could change how

this external I again I could change how I see my own world and that’s the

I see my own world and that’s the

I see my own world and that’s the amazing thing of photography that it can

amazing thing of photography that it can

amazing thing of photography that it can show you that and nowadays I’m making

show you that and nowadays I’m making

show you that and nowadays I’m making this theory about internationals coming

this theory about internationals coming

this theory about internationals coming to live in Eindhoven sell-down

to live in Eindhoven sell-down

to live in Eindhoven sell-down work here have lies

work here have lies

work here have lies and tell all these stories of these

and tell all these stories of these

and tell all these stories of these people the way they live what they do

people the way they live what they do

people the way they live what they do and what I’d wanted to do in the future

and what I’d wanted to do in the future

and what I’d wanted to do in the future is that I can do that all over the world

is that I can do that all over the world

is that I can do that all over the world dive in these communities and make this

dive in these communities and make this

dive in these communities and make this series and show people show people who

series and show people show people who

series and show people show people who they are where they’re with whom they

they are where they’re with whom they

they are where they’re with whom they are so what I want you to take with you

are so what I want you to take with you

are so what I want you to take with you is that you my audience is also a

is that you my audience is also a

is that you my audience is also a community we are also a community just

community we are also a community just

community we are also a community just by showing up here today we are all part

by showing up here today we are all part

by showing up here today we are all part of a community and we all we are all

of a community and we all we are all

of a community and we all we are all part of a bigger whole so I just want

part of a bigger whole so I just want

part of a bigger whole so I just want you to see yourself oh it’s you guys so

you to see yourself oh it’s you guys so

you to see yourself oh it’s you guys so we’re part of this community we’re a big

we’re part of this community we’re a big

we’re part of this community we’re a big part of a bigger whole thank you

[Music]

[Music] you

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *