Sleutelen as Photographic Gesture

Abstract

Traditionally, the photographic gesture has been understood through the analogy of hunting. However, this analogy fails to capture important characteristics of photography such as coexistence and chance. Through a close examination of my artistic practice, this paper revises the 'hunting analogy' and proposes the Dutch verb 'sleutelen' (a specific kind of tinkering) as an alternative way of understanding the photographic gesture. By emphasizing the process of creation and coexistence with the subject, 'sleutelen' offers a new, more social perspective on the photographic act. Sleutelen' as a photographic gesture aims to question our social and cultural perceptions of ourselves and others.