Groepsfoto van het bezoek aan de leprozerie Pelantoengan 1931 - 1935

Otto Hisgen took this group photograph at the Pelantoengan leper colony sometime in the early 20th century. I can imagine Hisgen lining everybody up for this shot, adjusting his focus, and hoping that nobody moved during the exposure. The photo shows a formal visit, capturing a staged moment, but I can't help thinking about what happened before and after the picture was taken. How did it feel to be there as the photographer? How did he interact with the people he photographed? Did he try to find a way to connect? And for the subjects, were they excited to be the object of the photograph, or did they feel awkward and exposed? Did he capture the people in a way that felt dignified? I like to think of artists as being in constant conversation, building upon each other’s ideas. Even through a photograph, Hisgen and the others in this picture inspire my curiosity and creativity. Looking at this image, I'm reminded that art is a way of thinking about big questions, as well as an act of embodied expression that embraces ambiguity.