Olga Wagemans

(NL, 1983)

What remains beyond

“Observing people has been the focus of my attention throughout my life. Initially, it helped me to survive, later it developed into a fascination for what makes people tick. I take great interest in what is hidden behind the mask of the individual. We live in times of polarization of society and individualization. I feel called to challenge and question the identity we ascribe to ourselves and others. This identity determines to a great extent how we relate to others and the world around us. For this project, I used a heat camera with the aim to “de-picture” the outer identity and to explore if there is a core that remains and unites all people. In applying this technique, outer attributes such as age, gender or color of skin often disappear.”

With personal identity falling away, a universal phenomenon emerges.