Louise Honée
We Love Where We Live
For her project We love where we live, Louis traveled to McDowell County in West Virginia to investigate how the young generation is facing daily life. This former prosperous mining area has turned into a place with little prospect for better times. With this project, Honée shares an intimate view of the relationship and attachment of these young people to the environment in which they grew up.
Works available
We Love Where We Live Willow
€2.600 - Hahnemühle fine art - pearl paper - 90x60 cm
- Maple wood frame, grey lacquered - art glass - deepened - aluminium suspension profile
From the exhibiton Lauwer gallery & Gallery Le lac gelé 2019
One day I walked in a class at the Elementary School in Welch. During the lunch break I sat opposite Willow who told me about her pets, the two snakes Dobby the python and Schmiegle a red colored one. Their house is located on a hill with 46 steps to the front door. Willow has two years older sisters Neveah and have a strong bond together. What struck me when I saw Willow at work in class is that she could draw so well. When I asked her mother about that, she showed me all her notebooks in which all her creations were written, all kinds of animation figures that have something of a horror fantasy. Sadly, Willow's mother passed away a year and a half ago, just before Christmas. That gives the photos an extra layer for me. The moment Willow hangs upside down in the drying rack while playing, there is still an innocent childhood.
We Love Where We Live Dobby the Python
€1.450 - Hahnemühle fine art - pearl paper - 31x46,50 cm
- Maple wood frame, black lacquered - art glass - deepened - aluminium suspension profile
From the exhibition Lauwer gallery 2020 & Gallery Le lac gelé 2019
We Love Where We Live Double Storey
€1.450 - Hahnemühle fine art - pearl paper - 44x65 cm
- Maple wood frame, black lacquered - art glass deepened - aluminium suspension profile
From the exhibition Lauwer gallery, Gallery Club en Gallery Le lac gelé 2019
We Love Where We Live Jalen I
€1.950 - Wooden frame, black - 66x44 cm
-Maple wood frame, black lacquered - art glass - deepened - aluminium suspension profile
From the exhibition Lauwer gallery 2020, Gallery Club and Gallery Le lac gelé 2019
I became acquainted with Jalen on my second trip to McDowell County in 2017. He lives in the former coal town of Thorpe. Jalen's family is large, with brothers sisters nephews nieces, uncles and aunts, at the head is their grandmother, everyone lives under her roof. In his Sunday clothes, Jalen dances in the street to the music of 'Beat it' by Michael Jackson his house. I was also allowed to go to the church service, especially for the black community. This was a wonderful experience.
We Love Where We Live Santa Song
€1.450 - Hahnemühle fine art - pearl paper - 31x46,5 cm
- American walnut frame, oiled - art glass - deepened - aluminum suspension profile
From the exhibition Lauwer gallery 2020
During my last trip to McDowell I was allowed to attend a dance class where the group of children had to practice for the different dances of the December Christmas performance. For each dance they needed different dancing shoes. The tap shoes were used for the dance to the song Santa Baby, by Eartha Kitt.
Louise about the project:
“Youth is an interesting theme to work with in many ways. In my work I want to emphasize the position of the young generation in its natural environment. And maybe it's because I'm a mother myself that I'm naturally drawn to photographing this theme, it's also an attraction based on my intuition. These children have the same background. Many of the adults around the children in this area have to deal with daily struggles. Many children do not live with their biological parents, often with grandparents or other relatives. Yet they are also part of the strong solidarity that the community offers them, where they feel the warmth and security. I wonder what future prospects are offered to this young generation”
We Love Where We Live, Gallery Club 2020
Photobook We Love Where We Live, Prix HSBC pour la Photographie 2020
We Love Where We Live, depot Honée
We Love Where We Live in Lauwer gallery, Den Haag 2020
Louise was Laureate Prix HSBC pour la photographie 2020 and made her photo book. The project We Love Where We Live has had various publications and exhibitions in The Hague, Amsterdam, Paris and Nimes. The book has been voted as the best author photo book 2020 by de Volkskrant.