Investigation of Love
(Installation, a performance, and a book)

“Investigation of Love” explores the photograph as evidence, in particular, whether photographs can function as proof for such an abstract notion as love. The project was inspired by application for a Dutch residence permit. The procedure involved presenting photographs of the couple relationship, their holiday pictures and snippets of daily life, to an anonymous immigration officer for assessment. But whether several pictures of a couple duly justify love?  And if not, how many more images would it take to do so? Is it at all possible to depict an emotional bond with photography? What can be a real evidence of love?

In “Investigation of Love” photography is employed as a detective tool. The book is a visual timeline of a relationship in a collection of objects and photographs. Pictures display the places the couple visited together and things they did; objects form a story within the relationship, items they gave each other, purchased, found, or stole together. Although the infatuation with the person is clear, is it enough to prove love?

The collection of 514 personal objects is handled as an evidence and has been photographed in a clean, cataloged environment. It includes a set of dessert forks purchased at the Texel island flea market, postcards, the furniture which the couple bought together, books which they recommended to each other, and even a dog.

“Investigation of Love” is an attempt to encounter love through its evidence: the personal archive, daily objects, documents, and letters.


Installation view 'Investigation of Love' (256 digital prints, 2,5 x 4 meters) Fotofestival Schiedam, Schiedam, The Netherlands, 2018 


'Forks', 'Polaroid', 'Glasses', from Investigation of Love, Inkjet print, various sizes, 2018. 

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'Atlas', 'Kast', from Investigation of Love, Inkjet print, various sizes, 2018

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Untitled, from Investigation of Love, Inkjet print, various sizes, 2018

 

 


'Bat', 'Minerals', 'Cactuses', 'Plates', from Investigation of Love, Inkjet print, various sizes, 2018. 


'Kodak car', from Investigation of Love, Inkjet print, various sizes, 2018 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love' (256 digital prints, 2,5 x 4 meters) Fotofestival Schiedam, The Netherlands, 2018 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love' (256 digital prints, 2,5 x 4 meters) Fotofestival Schiedam, The Netherlands, 2018 

 


'Investigation of Love', photo book, offset, hardcover, full color, 240 pages, Amsterdam, 2018
 


Installation view ‘Investigation of Love’, PhotoEspaña, Alcobendas Museum, Madrid, 2020, photo prints on aluminium Dibond with acryl frames,
various sizes.
 


'Maps', photo print on aluminium Dibond with acryl frame, 2020
 


'Atlas', photo print on aluminium Dibond with acryl frame, 2020
 


'Glasses', photo print on aluminium Dibond with acryl frame, 2020

 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love', PhotoEspana, Alcobendas Museum, Madrid, 2020, photo prints on aluminium Dibond with acryl frames, various sizes
 


'Skulls', photo print on aluminium Dibond with acryl frame, 2020 

 


Installation view ‘Investigation of Love’, PhotoEspaña, Alcobendas Museum, Madrid, 2020, photo prints on aluminium Dibond with acryl frames, various sizes
 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love', PhotoEspana, Alcobendas Museum, Madrid, 2020, photo prints on aluminium Dibond with acryl frames, various sizes

 


'Kast', photo print on aluminium Dibond with acryl frame, 2020 

 


Installation view ‘Investigation of Love’, PhotoEspaña, Alcobendas Museum, Madrid, 2020, photo prints on aluminium Dibond with acryl frames, various sizes
 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love', 2020, Singapore International Photofestival, Singapore
Inkjet prints, objects, various sizes

 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love', 2020, Singapore International Photofestival, Singapore

 


Installation view 'Investigation of Love', 2020, Singapore International Photofestival, Singapore
Inkjet prints, objects, various sizes


Investigation of Love book was reviewed by immigration attorney Susanne Mooij. The review was organized by an Expert Photobook Review and displayed during Unseen Amsterdam.


FOTODOK Book Club #17 hosted by Rob Hornstra, artist talk, Utrecht, NL

Investiogation of Love at Unseen Dummy Award, Unseen Festival, Amsterdam 2017