Photographer Ruben Timman of the Museum of Humanity had about 60 Zaankanters with different nationalities in front of his camera. Mayor Jan Hamming of Zaanstad gave him the idea to map all nationalities. The ‘We are Zaanstad’ project should be completed in June with an exhibition and perhaps a book with photos and stories.
Early on Sunday morning, Ruben has to pull out all the stops to make a beautiful portrait of a toddler. He seduces the boy with a ball to look straight into his lens. Ruben has already sent off the watching bystanders to make his mission a success. It works and he shows the mother how beautiful her son looks on it. The mother is from China, the father is from Columbia and they met when she was living in the South American country for her thesis. She grew up in Limburg and the family recently moved to Westzaan.
love stories
Ruben thinks it’s a wonderful story like so many others. “I especially enjoy the love stories. Because very often love brings someone here.” But the poignant stories of people who are in favor of war, such as the Ukrainians now, are also given a place in the project.
half-Irish
A sweet reddish girl finds it all very scary. But on her father’s lap and through Ruben’s charms, she relaxes and shows her most beautiful smile. Her father is just a Dutchman, but she is half Irish because her mother is from Ireland. When asked if she liked being photographed, she nodded yes very shyly. Her father is visibly proud of her.
Ruben can’t wait to hang portraits in his museum on the Hemburg site. First some work to do. on nto the 180 nationalities.
Residents who want to participate can register via www.museumofhumanity.nl