André Bakker // Photography // Portfolio
“Watching the Parade”
I was awarded with Zilveren Camera / Paul Peters Award / 2nd place for social photography.
Proud that my series was selected out of 640 series by a very good jury.
Jury comment:
A layered series about an old tradition – The Shooting clubs in Limburg – in a new setting.
The parade of shooting club’s associations moves through empty streets of Limburg villages and vinex neighborhoods.
A series with a vision on the Netherlands.
A mild commentary on who we are, it touches on themes of social cohesion and the changing society.
Every image is spot on and you can look at it longer and discover new details every time.
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In 2019 I started documenting the shooting club tradition in the South of the Netherlands and this was the first big media output. In 2021/2022 i’m gonna take it to the next level in showing the world what this tradition is all about , what it means for the people who take part.
The duality that is so characteristic of the Dutch and Belgian provinces of Limburg is strikingly portrayed by the typical Limburg phenomenon “De Schutterij” (traditional shooting clubs).
The symbolism, often religious, the traditions and the rich history of the ‘Schutters’ guilds are represented by the flashy splendor of the colorful costumes and associated banners and relics.
The parading guilds contrast with the virtually deserted streets of the neighborhoods and municipalities. Reinforced by the seclusion of the houses closed with shutters, unimaginative architecture and the absence of people, the cold aloofness during the parades of the many Limburg ‘schutterijen’ becomes almost tangible.
The communities do not seem to allow snoopers and exclude the world. Sometimes literally. It is in contrast to the rich and exuberant tradition of the ‘schutterijverenigingen’ that play a meaningful role in social cohesion. Where the extrovert of the cultural phenomenon reinforces the introvert of neighborhoods.
