Sammie - straight through the lens (2018-ongoing)
Sammie (2000) is the son of Els Zweerink. In her series she tells in an intimate way how her camera enabled her to stay in touch with her son, from the very moment she felt like she was going to lose him: the day he turned eighteen. It is the first day he can legally buy a joint, which he holds up, while looking at his mother triumphantly, but at the same time puzzled. Zweerink captures the moment and has followed her son closely ever since. Sammie has ADHD, is expelled from school in his final year and currently works in a restaurant. His life is largely determined by his group of friends from Amsterdam (the 'squah'). They represent the urban Generation Z, a group of sensitive young adults who do not feel at home in the performance society they grow up in. Colorful characters, who look for their own path in a unique way. They don’t consider themselves as just a group of friends, but as family, where they find understanding, support, love and above all a lot of fun.
‘Sammie – straight through the lens’ is about growing up, having fun, loneliness, expectations, prejudices, finding your own way, dealing with ADHD, addiction and the fear of losing contact with your child. And it’s about the power of the camera, which allows Els Zweerink to see her son, to distance herself and approach again, to be a photographer and a mother.
A substantial number of participants in this festival is presenting work in which family histories form the basis for a broader dialogue. This is particularly true for this series by social documentary and portrait photographer Els Zweerink. With ‘Sammie’, she not only captures a group of friends, but also the relationship between mother and son and the interaction between generations X and Z. It typifies the work of Zweerink, who searches for worlds that are not immediately visible.
