josef chladek

on photobooks and books

Poike Stomps - Crossing Europe, Poike Stomps Books, 2016, Amsterdam

Hardcover, edition of 1500 copies, signed. Design by Kummer & Herrman, texts by Poike Stomps, Tomas Vanheste (journalist at De Correspondent), translation and editing by Cecily Layzell, Erica Moore and Marianne Beuken.

"Crossing Europe is a photo project where I travelled 42 European Countries and took pictures in each Capital City: of people crossing the street on busy intersections.
Living round the corner from Muntplein in Amsterdam meant I used to pass it several times a day. And it would often cheer me up just to see the life going on in those few square metres. I like watching crowds.
I started studying people crossing at the intersection, observing their interactions and the way they moved. Initially I experienced them as act- ing in groups, organically, in orderly or in chaotic fashion. But within the dense movement one or more individuals would soon stand out from the crowd.
....
In my work I wanted to put people in the spotlight, like actors on a stage. More than that, I wanted a spotlight to illuminate them. This light, com- ing from a different angle, would make them stand out; and emphasise the chance encounters that took place; single moments frozen in time. But it would be important not to interfere in people’s actions, to remain unno- ticed as far as possible."

Order here.

Pages: 120
Place: Amsterdam
Year: 2016
Publisher: Poike Stomps Books
Size: 27 x 33 cm (approx.)