RAW fotocollectief
RAW Fotocollectief is a Dutch photography collective based in Hengelo consisting of five distinct photographers: Lynne Greenaway, Erna ter Haar, Dorothee Kellner, Metin Yirtici, and Jenny de Groot. The name “RAW” serves a double meaning: it refers to the raw, unedited digital files that form the canvas for artistic choices, while also standing for Real ArtWork. Every year the photo collective produces work under a different theme and exhibits the work locally.
INVISIBLE – 2026
Invisible. It is something that eludes the naked eye and naturally one would expect it to elude the camera lens as well. But how can something invisible be captured through the medium of photography? This seems like a paradox, which naturally piques curiosity.
There is great power in unraveling this invisibility and bringing it into focus; this is precisely what the exhibition aims to do.
The photographers of the RAW photo collective have each found a story close to their hearts and translated it into visual form.
Caution is not paranoia; it is survival.
For half the world’s population, walking alone at night is not simple, it is a calculated risk. “Safety in the Dark” is a photo series that explores this daily burden, capturing a hidden fear that many men never have to see or think about.
With global statistics showing that nearly 1 in 3 women will experience violence in their lifetime, this project highlights a deep societal disconnect. Through images of seven locations, seven objects of safety, and seven portraits, this series highlights a contrast between a woman’s constant awareness of danger and a man’s general unawareness of it.
This work validates the lived experiences of women while inviting men to see the invisible boundaries and “secret weapons” required to simply feel secure. “Safety in the Dark” breaks the silence to start a necessary conversation about a simple question: Who gets to feel safe in the dark?
REJECTED – 2025
Being rejected or failing to gain acceptance is an experience everyone has encountered at some point, yet it often remains difficult to put into words. It is a part of the human experience that confronts us with our own vulnerability and frequently triggers a wide range of emotions.
These experiences are not only painful but can also offer valuable lessons and new perspectives. In this context, we aim to encourage artists to harness their creativity and explore this complex feeling of rejection in their own unique way. How can they translate that pain into art? What happens when we embrace rejection as a source of inspiration? Twenty-five photo and video artists from across the Netherlands explore this theme and share their unique perspectives.
Weathering the Storm
Weathering the Storm is a self-portrait of the artist as the embodiment of resilience.
Surrounded by dramatically crashing waves, she floats gracefully and in perfect balance upon a stormy sea; by offering no resistance to the raging elements, she illustrates not a struggle against them, but a profound acceptance of her circumstances.
The image invites viewers to weather life’s unpredictable and inevitable storms, drawing strength from perseverance rather than confrontation. Viewed through this lens, Weathering the Storm becomes a visual mantra reinforcing the idea that, while we cannot alter the unpredictability of life’s journey, we possess the power to navigate the turbulence with grace and determination toward new horizons.
WHAT IF…? – 2024
In this exhibition the artists explored the theme “What if…?”. In an era where calls for conservative values are frequently heard, we believe it is important to reflect on possibilities for developing visions that challenge pigeonholing. Many of the artists share their experiences and insights, urging people to get involved and take action. Their themes are diverse and thought-provoking: violence against women, the femininity of men and the masculinity of women, clothing, identity, viewing art history from a different perspective, the body, and more. What if this exhibition could spark change? Twenty-three photo and video artists from across the Netherlands explore the many facets of female identity, and their visions challenging rigid categorization, around the theme “What if…?”.
Le Grand Odalisque
What if we lived in a world where the female gaze shaped (art) history? Imagine, for instance, if Neoclassical painters had depicted men as graceful odalisques… The perspective would have shifted, the roles reversed, and men, rather than women, would have been the objects of sexualization and voyeuristic pleasure.
In my quest to understand such a potential shift, I decided to recreate the famous 1814 oil painting La Grande Odalisque, by the Neoclassical artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. When Ingres first exhibited this painting, which depicts a graceful odalisque, or concubine, it faced harsh criticism due to the model’s unnaturally elongated proportions and a lack of anatomical realism.
My aim is to recreate this historical image from a female perspective; consequently, contemporary, hyper-masculine props have been added, and the model is, naturally, my own concubine.
TIME – Feminine Identity – 2023
Female identity is a complex subject that touches everyone, consciously or unconsciously, and is timeless. Women continue to strive for an equal place in every conceivable sphere: within the family, at work, and in the public realm. It is therefore not surprising that the participating artists have chosen their own unique perspectives to visualize the story behind female identity. In doing so, they explore questions such as: how can femininity be portrayed? What does femininity mean to us? In what way do you wish to express your femininity? They highlight themes such as vulnerability, strength, physicality, meeting expectations, and aging. The focus shifts from the past to the present, the here and now, before ultimately looking toward the future, resulting in a compelling journey through time.
Yesterday’s Tomorrow
The photograph reveals multiple layers of an aging face, with each layer representing a specific stage of life. Each captured moment showcases a unique aspect of female identity.
A woman’s age and identity are intricately linked. Women are often judged by their physical appearance and measured against a standard that is both unfair and impossible to meet.
Yet, this photograph illustrates how aging is an inevitable part of life and how the wisdom and experience that accompany it are irreplaceable.