Susanne Duppen, Jouwja, 2024

When a child holds a newborn sibling for the first time, something shifts. There’s a sudden sense of responsibility as their hands, usually clumsy, cradle the baby with care. These moments, captured in family albums, mark the beginning of a new bond. In Jouwja, Susanne has revisited her family album with Daan, her youngest brother, in mind. He experiences the world differently than his older siblings. Through visual research, she explores how these early moments of connection continue to shape their present relationship. For Daan, the past holds special meaning—he often looks back at old photos, wishing for things to remain unchanged. Daan lives in a silent world and may one day lose his sight, in that regard hands are essential. Hands guide him, communicate for him, and offer reassurance of connection. Through the work, Susanne reflects on roles within the family, the question of support and the family as a structure with all its entanglements. Using her family archive as a foundation, she cut, zoomed, turned, and collaged images to highlight different perspectives. Combined with (new) documentary work, creating an observational approach that draws the viewer into her personal narrative.