/ Left Stories

20 Oct 2019 / 24 Nov 2019

Left Stories

The title of this exhibition "Left Stories" refers to the stories of people at the edge of society. Artist Robbert Fortgens is intrigued by these stories as they make him realise what a fine line we all tread. People all over the world are trying to survive and find shelter. During his many travels Fortgens very often saw houses made from corrugated iron. During those journeys, the idea was born to put his own stories and signs in the form of photos and paint on corrugated iron, which serve as a metaphor for the many houses he saw during his travels.  “I have been photographing people on the street for eight years now. These photos form the basis of my work. I was most affected during a trip to Bolivia. Bolivia is a third world country, but I have never seen so many Hummers and so many people in dire poverty".

“In New York I worked for a day in a homeless centre. It was the middle of winter, it snowed and it was freezing, 16 degrees. The wind was cutting through my clothes. People were given soup, coffee, a sandwich, clothing, toothpaste, soap, etc. There was a constant stream of homeless people coming and going throughout the day. Then they went back out into the cold, each his own way. I was already photographing homeless people all over the world for a number of years, but I didn't take a single photo that day”.

“There is a story behind everything and everyone. That story makes me curious and I want to explore it further. As an artist, I think you should be socially involved. The artwork may raise questions, make the viewer think. It may not only be a nice picture, but it does not always have to be dark and heavy. There is certainly also room for beauty" - Robbert Fortgens.


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