Residents

From Residents by Sanne van Ginkel

Massey Honours photography student Sanne van Ginkel has just released her book Residents. The work features 54 portraits of Wellington residents, an exploration to discover if they communicate their place of residence through the way they present themselves.

In her accompanying abstract about the work Sanne writes:

“ How can photography uncover connections of people and place, in contemporary
Wellington?

Residents arises from an interest in sociology within the Wellington region, in particular the
expression of place through individuals. The project explores working with ethnographic and
typological modes, exploring specific aesthetics that apply to the individuals of Wellington
suburbs. The project aims to explore this concept photographically, allowing the audience to
observe the ‘people-map’, while questioning stereotypes and locating themselves culturally.

The importance of this project is in broadening understanding of self-representation in
contemporary Wellington. Residents engages with the individuals of twelve Wellington
suburbs, in an exploration to discover if they communicate their place of residence within the
way they present themselves. In discussing her series Imperial Courts, Dana Lixenberg states
that ‘’the residents are co-authors as well as the central figure of narrative’’. (Lixenberg,
2013). Similarly, Residents pictures the subjects as people with a story rather than identifying
them as models or objects. Through open invitation, subjects selected themselves to
participate in the project, contributing to the credibility of the work as no initial stereotypes
had been constructed."

To order a copy contact Sanne.