<<

Oranje Nassau 
Laura van den Enden

Student of Fine Arts

It's the identity within the documents that keeps the archive alive. The folder its stored in, the hands it touched and the tiny notes written on the back. All embedded in this single printed photograph. Once multiplied we've got an archive full of intimacy, honesty and character.

The person depicted in the photograph, is just as important as the one who took it and the one who saves it for the future. The archive is full of historical images of kings and queen, their summer homes, family portraits, crowning's and other festive or important events. But who's story do we follow?

In history, tapestries are used to tell the national or kingdoms stories. It shows wealth and power considering the amount of labour put into one piece. The structure of a rug is similar to the structure of an archive. It speaks out the national history which is made by the anonymous. But why not turn it upside down?

Therefore, I made a rug of Zeeman's Royal wool to celebrate the other identities present on the photograph's back. This time those characters are highlighted, and the photograph of “Oranje Nassau” being taken... somewhere small on the backing.

Inspirational images used from the Spaarnestad Collection: