Loek Buter
A Bear in the Lowlands

Sept. 17, 2022 – Jan. 8, 2023 This exhibition has ended
Hal
5
Kunsthal Rotterdam is presenting ‘A Bear in the Lowlands’ by photographer Loek Buter (the Netherlands, 1982). This photo series, for which he received the Silver Camera Award, tells the story of the former circus performer Maxy Niedermeyer (Germany, 1941) and her brown bear Natascha. After the 2014 European ban on performing with wild animals, Maxy was forced to part with most of her circus animals and decided to move to the Netherlands. She was only allowed to keep her bear Natascha because of the close relationship they had with each other. In the photo series, Buter managed to capture this intimate bond and reflects on the changing relationships between humans and animals in today’s world.

Book your ticket here!

Intrigued by the surreal image of a bear in the Dutch polder landscape, Buter decided to follow these seemingly misplaced characters in the northernmost part of the province of North Holland. He captured Maxy’s daily activities, which mainly consisted of taking care of her bear: preparing food, grooming her fur, and walking her through the polder landscape. Buter also added various archival photos to his photo series that offer us a glimpse into the old circus profession. He shows Maxy decked out in her old costumes while looking back on her sixty-year career during which she travelled around the world with her circus animals. In doing so, Buter exposes the great contrast between Maxy’s glamorous circus past and her current simple life in the Netherlands, where she and her bear Natascha are spending their retirement. 

Loek Buter

Loek Buter (1982, The Netherlands) graduated from the Fotoacademie Amsterdam. As a documentary photographer, Buter is interested in telling stories about the influence landscapes have on individuals and their communities. His projects are social landscape narratives with a strong focus on the relationship between humans and nature, the Dutch landscape, agriculture, sustainability and outdoor life. Buter has already won several awards for his work, including the Silver Camera (2021 and 2022) and Lens Culture’s Critics Choice Award. 

For the press

See also

1. Maxy walking Natascha, 2014 © Loek Buter.jpg
Maxy walking Natascha, 2014 © Loek Buter
2. Maxy poses in her old circus costume, 2014 © Loek Buter.jpg
Maxy poses in her old circus costume, 2014 © Loek Buter
Kunsthal & Cookies
For an optimal website visit, we use functional and analytical cookies. To show videos and advertisements based on your interests, your consent is required for the use of marketing cookies. You can change this at any time. View our cookie statement and privacy statement.
These cookies enables the website to work like it should. These cookies are not optional.
These cookies are set by third parties, like YouTube or Vimeo.
These cookies allow us to measure the usage of the website and improve it accordingly.
These cookies allow our advertising partners to offer content tailormade for you.
When you disable categories, some functionality in the website might not work correctly. It's possible to change your preferences at any time. More information.