Artist’s statement:
“ My work is profoundly influenced by the international nature of my upbringing and childhood. I’m Belgian born, grew up in Congo and South Africa and now I am based in France. So I’m naturally compelled by themes like identity, memory, and cultural heritage. I’ve always been intrigued and saddened by the fact that there were few or no photographs to tell the story of my family. Everything in Congo, like in most African countries, was transmitted orally. I always found it alarming to have a precious story depending only on a handful of people. Resulting in the lack of accuracy with the memory itself being weakened with time and emotions… I always thought that the best way to preserve a story was through image. Even writing can tell a lie. But an image never lies. That’s probably why I became a photographer to keep memories eternal and as truthful as possible.
So it became sort of a mission for me: Preserving my family’s memory. Which became a purpose. And throughout my journey, I started questioning history. Which created a dialogue between the past, the present and the future. I soon found out that my family’s complex web of memories and heritage was interlinked with the politics and history of the African continent and that became crucial to the narrative of my work. More than a purpose, it all became testimony.
I like to use every medium possible in different languages to amplify my statement. My work is hybrid: Film, writing, performing, music, photography… mixing all kind of materials like wood, water, rust, sand, fire… My process is based on experimenting with the reactions of the paper, torning it, distorting it, blending it with elements of nature and different substances to confront the idealism of photography with the reality of the matter. “
Learn more about and support our issue 53 cover artist at https://furiephotographe.com/BUY-ME-2025
