am i real (ly here)? 
beautiful distress house | amsterdam 2023

the project am i real (ly here)? focuses on people from the LGBTQIA+ community who have fled their homelands because of their sexual identity. they were excluded, could not live in freedom, and feared for their lives. along the way they lost many loved ones, family and children. many of them came here in the hope to be accepted as they are, but have to pass the dutch immigration service first, where some find out that they are considered not-queer-enough. to prove your sexual identity does not always turn out to be so easy, therefore many people spend years in various shelters awaiting approval to be queer-enough. they get stuck between past and future, awaiting what's to come next. it goes without saying that most of these people carry traumas with them and still have great inner struggle.

with great gratitude to francis and mayis for their trust and patience.