“In my personal quest for my family history, my aim is to make photographs that are not bound by time. Using the atmosphere of the past, I want to make history tangible and recognizable in the present”
~ Ilona Langbroek
Ilona Langbroek's work is both haunting and beautiful. Her "Silent Loss" series delves into her family's history in the Dutch East Indies, intricately tied to the Netherlands' colonial past, exploring the dormant yet palpable emotions of those forced to leave post-Independence. Her artistry transcends aesthetics, embedding profound meaning within each image through intuitive recollections of her grandmother's presence and thorough research encompassing intergenerational interviews and scrutinizing antiquated photo albums. This meticulous approach extends to her concepts, involving authentic artifacts, models, locales, and custom-made period attire, seamlessly blending originality with her own designs. Langbroek's contemporary oeuvre masterfully captures an ambiance of both wistfulness and poetic beauty, and the soft luminosity reminiscent of Dutch Golden Age painters. Undoubtably a great photographer on the rise.