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Blokland: ‘Circulate: Photography Beyond Frames happens in the context of the biannual arts procuration by Stedelijk Museum. With each purchase, the museum focuses on a different discipline or theme, of which half of all the works on display are purchased by the museum.
How did you come to this selection?
Blokland: ‘Every two years, a new theme is selected. And this time that theme is photography. We as the jury made a selection from a longlist, composed by various creators and curators from the field. The exhibition shows the works of 21 artists. Four former HKU students are among them, and one HKU teacher made the final selection: Kevin Osepa, Jaya Pelupessy, Sharelly Emanuelson, Robert Glas and Anika Swartzloze. The works of these HKU affiliates were on the longlist, and they quickly and unanimously made it to the final list.’
‘For this expo, we wanted to select works that not only tell a story, but also reflect critically on the medium of photography itself. Think of the use of chemical processes to reveal traces of the past, or on the ways in which social media can spread photographic images in rapid pace. This expo is about artists that do not limit themselves to the photographic image, but also think about how that medium is related to our society and the speed by which images are consumed.’
Are the HKU artists in this expo typical for the perspective that HKU has on photography?
Blokland: ‘Yes, they are. At HKU, we strongly emphasise a critical approach to photography. Students learn to see photography not as the end product, but as a medium that has an effect on our society. They also explore the complexity of image archives, assumptions in image formation and how the medium relates to societal issues. The curriculum is therefore very focused on autonomy and stimulates students to think beyond the visual aspect of photography.’
What changes can you observe in the photography profession and education throughout the years?
Blokland: ‘Photography has changed immensely, both because of technical and societal developments. While the discussion used to be about digital versus analogue, the debate has now shifted to the influence of AI in images and image formation, for example. Another example is the influence of social media on photography. Film and moving images are now more intertwined with photography, which leads to wholly new opportunities. Students also approach the medium much more from a societal context.’
Can you tell us a bit more about your own background and how it defines you as a teacher?
Blokland: ‘I started my education at the Rietveld Academy, where I studied theatre design and then photography. That mix of theatre and photography made me take an experimental approach to the medium early on. In my later studies at the Sandberg Institute and the research during my later studies at Leiden University, I started to focus on postcolonial perspectives in photography. This is also reflected in my work and my research, in which I take a critical view at where and how the history of photography is often perceived from a narrow and white perspective.’
The expo in Stedelijk Museum can be visited until 23 March 2025. Why should people go and see it?
Blokland: ‘Photography is often seen as a ‘simple image’, but this expo instead reveals the many layers and the complexity of the medium. The works in Circulate are not just photos, but also show the processes and critical reflections through which artists approach the photography medium. It is fascinating for people who are curious about the role that photography serves in our society, and how the medium relates to contemporary art. Furthermore, the expo gives a compact impression of what is currently happening in the Dutch field of photography’.
