Forever Young - Kunsthal

In the spring of 2014, Martijn van de Griendt will exhibit in the Kunsthal photographs of young people that he's made over the last 15 years.

Working as a street-photographer, in the style of the famous Dutch photographer Ed van der Elsken. Van de Griendt manages to get close-up to his subject, recording the current youth generation openly and directly. In their search for identity, alone and together, open, sometimes closed, Van de Griendt's portraits give a warm and promising overview of today's youth, both here in The Netherlands and elsewhere.

A quest for identity

Van de Griendt reveals through powerful images the vulnerability and candour of young people in the context of their own social circle. He registers them -capturing their attitude, gestures and expressions - with all the acuity of adocumentary photographer. Although his photos seem to be snapshots, Van de Griendt leaves little to chance. He observes, and waits patiently for, in his eyes, the perfect image that reveals a subtle dynamic or tension. One photograph, of Harry (13), before an "emo" concert in London, illustrates Van de Griendt's method. He portrays Harry - with charcoal around his eyes, lipstick, and a fringe down to his eyebrows - in public amongst other emos. Emos distinguish themselves through alternative fashion and an emotional streak. As soon as the absent expression of this vulnerable-looking boy falls within his field, Van de Griendt takes his shot. He catches those moments when young people are chiefly occupied with themselves and each other. When photographing, Van de Griendt manages quickly to win his subjects' trust, anapproach which produces pure, direct images. Regarding his method, he says: "I try very hard to involve myself with them, as though I'm one of them."