Maarten Vromans
Hope
2024 – ongoing
For his project ‘Hope’, Dutch photographer Maarten Vromans (1975) sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2024. During that crossing, which followed the classic route between Europe and the United States, Vromans photographed the horizon for days. And he recorded turning points in the day, such as the changes from sunshine to fog and rain, and the transition from colour to grey and black. Through this, he wanted to depict the changing emotions – from melancholy and uncertainty to curiosity and hope – of migrants who had also once made ‘the great crossing’.
Even before we could cross the ocean, we looked out at the horizon and fantasised about what could be seen beyond it. The horizon still marks a physical limitation for humans: we cannot, literally, see beyond what our gaze reaches. At the same time, the horizon symbolises our boundless spirit. Because it is precisely when we stare into the distance that we make endless journeys in our minds to all corners of our imagination.
Vromans was curious about the emotions he would experience if he observed the changing vastness of the Atlantic Ocean for days on end. At the same time, he wondered how he could translate those impressions into his work, in order to further develop his artistic possibilities and broaden his horizons – both literally and figuratively.
Movement. That is at the heart of Dutch photographer Maarten Vromans’ (1975) work and process. Whether he travels on foot, by train or by boat, he captures the changing landscapes that pass him by. Vromans’ photography goes beyond documenting what he sees; it is a pursuit for the hidden power and aesthetics of transient moments.
His pictures, which never feature people, are often mistaken for paintings. This is most likely due to his minimalist and timeless style and his preference for clean, graphic lines. With abstract images that retain the essence of his subjects, Vromans explores the boundaries of classic landscape photography and offers a fresh interpretation of this artistic discipline.
After three photo projects in which Vromans travelled overland by train, he wanted nothing more than to make a voyage over water for his new photo series. A long boat trip across the Atlantic Ocean appealed most to his imagination. For him, this classic crossing was not just a physical journey, but an adventure for the mind too.
Lucky Shots – 2017
For his photo series ‘Lucky Shots’, photographer Vromans traveled by train through The Netherlands, his home country.
During a total of thirty days spread throughout four seasons in 2017, he took pictures of the landscapes that he passed by.
Go West – 2018
Vromans travelled by train from New York to San Francisco in 2018, a trip he had never made before.
For four consecutive days, he took pictures of the new landscapes that he passed by.
