Pretty Dark

Programmed | 23 november until 4 may

Today's young people grow up in a world where social pressure and performance play a major role. Annabel Oosteweeghel and Museum Flehite Amersfoort make this tangible in the Pretty Dark exhibition. The photo series by Annabel Oosteweeghel (1969) cinematically reveals the mental well-being of young people. The images are accompanied by penetrating and personal interviews with the subjects. Pretty Dark can be seen from November 23, 2024 to May 4, 2025.

A perfect bubble

Young people are constantly confronted with photos and videos of people who look perfect and only do fun things. Growing up in this bubble of unreal images makes young people vulnerable. The pressure to create a perfect online persona on social media can lead to unrealistic expectations and a constant search for validation. In addition, it appears that the lockdowns still have a major impact on youth. One in three young people suffer from psychological complaints such as fear of failure, depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal thoughts and loneliness.

“My parents did not notice that I felt so bad, because I kept up appearances during the day, but in the meantime I slept poorly and spent nights worrying and crying in bed.” - Tip (24)

Power

Annabel Oosteweeghel portrayed 10 young people, partly from Amersfoort, partly from the rest of the Netherlands, aged 15-25, each with their own unique story. The setting of the photo series is often picturesque. This time she collaborated with artist and fashion stylist Frank Visser.

Photographer Annabel Oosteweeghel: “We wanted to show young people in their strength in this series. They feel better about themselves now. A positive message for everyone who will view the exhibition. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

The photos are carefully staged and aesthetically depicted. These are silent moments in which the subjects find themselves, frozen in time in which they try to adopt an identity all too self-consciously. Each portrait is supplemented with a personal interview about what it is like to grow up in an ever-changing world.

“I find myself reflexively checking my phone when the alarm goes off 24/7. I feel like my time is taken up by social media all day long.” - Jiyun (25)

Narrative photography by Annabel Oosteweeghel

Annabel Oosteweeghel (Bussum, 1969) studied audio-visual design at St Joost Academy in Breda. She calls her narrative photography 'Imaginary documentary', because the images she makes take a social issue as a starting point, but are meticulously staged and stylized by her. In 2015 she published her first book: Oblivious. It earned her a place as a finalist at the Lens Culture Exposure Awards and a nomination for the Dutch Photography So Award 2015. In 2016 she had a solo exhibition at Museum Hilversum with her series Old Love. She had an exhibition in Museum de Fundatie with her series Insomnia in 2020. She achieved great success and rave reviews.

Pretty Dark Tabloid

Pretty Dark also appears in tabloid form, it contains the photos of Annabel Oosteweeghel, the interviews of Joyce de la Croix and is designed by Eva van der Schans, Inedition. Visitors to the exhibition will receive the publication as part of the exhibition visit.

Education program in collaboration with Utrecht University

In collaboration with the interdisciplinary community 'Becoming adults in a changing world' of Utrecht University, Museum Flehite is developing an education program for secondary education and MBO. Based on a photography and staging workshop, professionals enter into a conversation with students about mental health in relation to the world in which they grow up. For professionals who work with young people, a knowledge event is planned for Thursday, November 28, also in collaboration with Utrecht University.

NB Museum Flehite is closed from March 3 to 14, 2025. Pretty Dark is therefore not accessible.