Document Nederland 2021: Distance Henk Wildschut photographs Covid pandemic
Publication date: 22 September 2021 - 10:00
The Rijksmuseum commissioned photographer Henk Wildschut to capture the impact of Covid-19 on Dutch society. Rather than engaging with the distractions of the day, Wildschut chose to literally keep his distance so he could reveal the broader picture. With his lucid, ‘clinical’ eye he has captured compelling images that bear witness to the qualities of emptiness, distance, silence and sheer scope that characterise his subject. The Distance exhibition is part of the annual presentation of Document Nederland at the Rijksmuseum. The Document Nederland Junior exhibition, which runs concurrently with Distance, sees ten young photographers documenting the impact of Covid-19 on their own lives, under the guidance of Henk Wildschut. Both displays run from 1 October 2021 to 16 January 2022.
I documented life under the regulations that for more than a year and a half forced us to socially distance, and left indelible marks in our society. The photos of warehouses full of facemasks, deserted offices, health authority testing sites, an empty theatre, a hospital morgue, demonstrations and the continuing Dutch tradition of fun on the ice reflect a highly charged period. The worry and impatience on the one hand, and gloomy sense of resignation on the other, are perhaps not immediately visible in the photographs, but everyone who sees them will recall this state of mixed feelings. It is in this way that, as a photographer, I have attempted to bridge the distance.
Henk Wildschut, photographer:
The Covid industry
While Wildschut’s photographs do show the ubiquitous facemasks, empty streets and social distancing signs, they also transcend the distractions of the day. Their subject is distance in time . Visitors to the exhibition – viewing the photographs through the eyes of the present – will be astonished by these images shot less than a year ago. They bear witness to the vigour with which the Netherlands set up a Covid ‘industry’ in such a short period. The plastic curtains hanging in a kebab kiosk are the same as those in a hospital room. The empty hall with two podiums at which Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge just gave a press conference recalls an empty church where the sermon is live-streamed to the congregation. A drive-through test centre looks like a theatre, its curtains still closed. These are parallel worlds, but they nonetheless look interchangeable.
Document Nederland
Each year, the Rijksmuseum commissions a different Dutch photographer to document a particular topical issue affecting society. The title Document Nederland was used for the first time in 1997. The selected photographer is asked to monitor and capture in still images this theme or subject from current events. Together, the resulting series of photographs form a powerful visual chronicle of the Netherlands in the late 20th and early 21st century.
Document Nederland Junior
In tandem with Document Nederland, the Rijksmuseum is this year staging the 13th edition of the annual Document Nederland Junior photography competition for young people. This year, for the first time, the winning works will be displayed prominently in the Photography Gallery in the Phillips Wing, alongside the work of Henk Wildschut. These personal photos testify to the impact of the Covid crisis on the daily lives of these young people.
Document Nederland is made possible by Fonds 1975 / Rijksmuseum Fund and Familie van Heel Fund / Rijksmuseum Fund.
Document Nederland Junior is made possible in part by the Vink Foundation / Rijksmuseum Fund.
Vital support
The Rijksmuseum has been hit hard by Covid-19. More than ever, it is clear that the museum cannot survive without its patrons. Government subsidies, corporate contributions and support from funds, as well as donations, legacies and Friends are, and will remain, essential to the Rijksmuseum.
