Introduction

Jury Chairman Alexandre Furtado Melville and jury members Juul Hondius and Vincent van Velsen selected five photographic graduation works for the Steenbergen Stipendium 2022. On April 14, 2023, the Stipendium was awarded to Romina Koopman.

About Koopman's Work
Romina Koopman cleverly and persuasively translates her analysis of the abundance of images in our current society into a visualization of what the future could look like. She employs a wide materiality in the objects used to make her point that digital images are, in a way, treasures.

This point, in a time when understanding changes in the use of digital image technology is largely lacking, is particularly welcome and valuable. It is necessary to initiate an awareness process in our society. And the form she uses questions the medium itself, in a way that is strongly indicative and reflective.

Sebastiaan Boot (St. Joost)

Zwaar vaarwater
The work that Sebastiaan creates is a product of his bicultural identity, a necessary theme in which he continuously moves, along with many other individuals. From this theme, he creates a new narrative from a rich but often forgotten or silenced history. He does this by combining various disciplines within his creative practice, in order to thoroughly explore and tell a story. These disciplines encompass dance, photography, film, spoken word, theater, artifacts, and audio. In his graduation project "Rough Waters" (Zwaar vaarwater), you can see all these disciplines come together and come to fruition. With "Rough Waters," Sebastiaan presents a new narrative of the journey that the Moluccans have undertaken and continue to undertake in the Netherlands.

Romina Koopman (Rietveld)

At The Other Side Of The Rabbit Hole
Romina is fascinated by how digital imagery can alter our perception of reality. She resides in the gray area where tangible and virtual worlds intersect, questioning the role of the screen as a boundary. Her work reflects on how the photographic medium, in the digital age, creates a new and ever-evolving truth.

(roze) meike (Willem de Kooning)

The Futures Love Us Back
(roze) meike is a visual artist, photographer, researcher, writer, archivist, and time traveler. Their art always emerges from a Queer and Afrodiasporic perspective, encompassing topics ranging from Black Joy to the impact of technology, Queer representation, the power of imagination, and more.

Mandy Nijhof (HKU)

When life gives you lemons, squeeze them out in the eyes of your abuser
Since the beginning of her studies, Mandy has been interested in themes related to fashion, identity, and mental health. Her work incorporates collage techniques and painting. She creates realistic self-portraits that revolve around challenges related to her mental health. The paintings also highlight elements referencing the trauma she experienced in her childhood. Through vivid colors and materials, the viewer's attention is drawn in an accessible and appealing manner to visually convey underlying issues.

Amy Opstal (KABK)

The Parent Act
Through Amy's work, people can engage with the invisible problems and struggles of individuals in our society. Confronting societal issues is necessary for changing public opinion. The goal is to contribute to emancipation and normalization through photography.

Amy captures her subjects in their vulnerable positions: women during childbirth, people sharing stories of abuse, individuals struggling with disabilities and illnesses, and LGBTQIA+ parents fighting for equal rights. She portrays the banality of pain, "otherness," and discomfort. The recent project "The Parent Act" focused attention on structural issues in our "free society," highlighting the inequality faced by LGBTQIA+ parents who choose to start families. The central theme is the lack of legislation for LGBTQIA+ parents seeking equal opportunities for alternative forms of parenthood.