A Wider Gaze - FOTODOK x Atelier Néerlandais

A Wider Gaze will bring together ten artists and photographers with varied backgrounds, who approach Europe from its margins and its intertwined stories. Through photography, installation, video, textile and archives, they question themes such as the bonds that unite us, colonial legacies, work and identity. Their stories do not offer a unique vision of Europe: they overlap, sometimes contradict, and remain open to interpretation.

According to an often quoted etymology, the name "Europe" comes from the ancient Greek eurys-ops ("wide gauze"). Are we still living up to that name? Can we keep this broad view and, despite the conflicts, see what we share as Europeans?

Ten perspectives on Europe

Emilia Martin and Sanne van den Elzen examine the transmission of women’s work, rituals and everyday gestures from generation to generation. Julia Gat and Thana Faroq show how distance, memory and the desire to return to the country are constantly redefining identity. Maite Vanhellemont and Rafael Roncato are interested in the shadow of colonialism and what remains of it or is ignored. Giya Makondo-Wills and Pablo Lerma explore how Europe determines who is part of it and who must constantly prove their membership. Mark Rammers observes how the inhabitants live their attachment to a place that everyone says is bad for health. Finally, Sheng-Wen Lo follows the trace of a simple pen to reveal the invisibility of the origins of consumer goods.

This group of artists highlights blind spots and unknown parts of history. A Wider Gaze invites visitors to establish links between the works themselves and to take a fresh look at our place in the world.

Exhibition A Wider Gaze – from 6 to 15 November to Atelier Néerlandais

Every day at 11h30: Guided tour of the exhibition.

12 November, 11h30–13h30: Blind Date with a Photobook, an informal meeting around the photo book with Sugar Paper. Free admission, upon registration: [Book here]

12 November, 16h30–18h30: Official opening of the exhibition in the presence of the artists.

13 November, 14h–15h30: Presentation of the book My Sweet Elora de Luuk van Raamsdonk, followed by a discussion.

13 November, 16h–17h30: BOOKTALKS*, discussions about photobooks with Lua Ribeira, Sophie Howell and other guests, at FUTURES (13 rue de Sévigné, 75004 Paris).

14 November, 11h–13h: Discussion around TRIGGER 7 Ocean, in collaboration with FOMU – Museum of Photography Antwerp.

15 November, 10h–14h: Street photography workshop hosted by Wesley Verhoeve and Shane Taylor.