In the seventies, my dad traveled for work. Wherever he went, he took photos. I grew up in the eighties with these images. They gave a sense of freedom and stimulated my curiosity. They held a promise of travel and exploration. But when I grew up, this promise failed to meet its expectations. Macdonaldization had already standardized experiences on every continent, and mass tourism turned many cultures into a caricature of themselves.
Today, instead of curiosity towards other cultures, we find ourselves acting on xenophobic impulses. We choose between hostility and assimilation of foreign cultures, instead of leaning into curiosity and acceptance. My childhood images displayed a more welcoming world. A faded memory.
singapore ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×71 cm, 2024
Mexico City iv
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×71 cm, 2024
bangkok vi
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×71 cm, 2024
hong kong vii
carved acrylic on canvas, 117×78 cm, 2024
fez iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 80×125 cm, 2024
hong kong ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 210×140 cm, 2023
Taiwan ii and iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 40×30 cm (left) and 40×30 cm (right), 2024
hong kong viii
carved acrylic on canvas, 97×115 cm, 2024
bangkok ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 100×140 cm, 2023
Mexico city ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2024
Paris i
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×30 cm, 2024
manila I
carved acrylic on canvas, 31×41 cm, 2023
Rio de Janeiro I
carved acrylic on wood panel, 80×80 cm, 2023
manila ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2024
Mexico City iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 40×30 cm, 2024
Taiwan i
carved acrylic on canvas, 18×28 cm, 2024
hong kong iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2023
taiwan I
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2023
bangkok i
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2023
hong kong iv
carved acrylic on canvas, 100×60 cm, 2024
singapore i
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2024
manila iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 15×20 cm, 2024
Penang ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 40×30 cm, 2024
curaçao ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 120×170 cm, 2024
Mexico City I
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2023
hong kong ix
carved acrylic on canvas, 97×115 cm, 2024
monaco i
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2024
manila v
carved acrylic on canvas, 40×30 cm, 2024
curaçao i
carved acrylics on canvas, 120×170 cm, 2024
hong kong v
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2024
hong kong vi
carved acrylic on canvas, 30×40 cm, 2024
fez i
carved acrylic on canvas, 40×30 cm, 2024
hong kong i
carved acrylic on canvas, 33×110 cm, 2023
bangkok iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 31×51 cm, 2023
manila iv
carved acrylic on canvas, 15×20 cm, 2024
fez v
carved acrylic on canvas, 120×80 cm, 2024
Paris iii
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×30 cm, 2024
bangkok v
carved acrylics on canvas, 80×120 cm, 2024
fez ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×30 cm, 2024
bangkok iv
carved acrylic on canvas, 18×28 cm, 2024
Paris ii
carved acrylic on canvas, 50×70 cm, 2024