EVA ROEFS, AMSTERDAM

Eva Roefs’ AMSTERDAM is a visual study of young people living in the Dutch capital, approached in the streets and portrayed by the artist in her studio in the Red Light District. However, the close-up, analytical photographs estrange the participants from the urban environment, resulting in a solid, black and white series whose focal point is the human experience. With this collection of characters gazing back at the camera, Roefs creates a portrait of the city without its landscape – it is the expressiveness of her subjects that defines Amsterdam, by standing against a stark white background and engaging with the medium and the artist. Each portrait feels carefully crafted, with the photographic process shining through the darkroom, delivering images that stand out for their rich tones and depth obtained through hand printing.