Frontlines & Borderlines
For the purposes of this project, the three artists shared personal family archives relating to the part played by one of their ancestors, in one of the world wars. Philippe provided photographs relating to his great-grandfather Nikolaus Beck, member of a Re- sistance network during the Second World War; Sam provided letters and photographs of his great-grandmother Molly, a globetrotter; Julian presented photographs and a diary from his grandfather, Frederick Walker, a First World War veteran who suffered a gas attack that left him visually impaired.
The selections focus on specific places, times and individuals. In each case, the donor cedes control of the interpretive process to his two partners to include additional (potentially corrective, intrusive or disruptive) research, mis- readings, unexpected ways of looking and even obsessive observations. The collectively created works question the supposed objectivity of archival material and the selection processes inherent in archiving.
Frontlines & Borderlines, Installation composed of various documents:
Photographs and texts, letters and portraits of the artists’ ancestors, sketchbooks and videos, 2023.
Philippe Black (born 1976. BE, lives and works in Brussels) is a historian and pho- tographer. Sam Vanoverschelde (born 1973, BE, lives and works in Brussels) is a film director and photographer. Julian Walker (born 1954, UK, lives and works in London) is a visual artist and researcher.