IMMIGRANTE 

I lived in France during the seventies and it was in those days that I met Marianne for the first time. A spontaneous reunion in 2005 planted a seed which slowly grew into this story, fed on mutual aspiration and my admiration for an unusual woman, small of stature but with a big heart and a strong commitment.  Despite a life linked to the bottom of society where social security was scarce and the right to family allowance cut in half due to a Polish background, Marianne managed to retain a respect for others, a rare humility and thriftiness. She accepted her destiny and her struggle marked her face and her soul. Marianne was the mother of 13 children and a French citizen. 

The portrait came to see light of day between 2006 and 2008. It consists of photographic records,  printed as photogravure in a limited edition and partly of Mariann'es own painstakingly hand written testimonies. It has been my wish that images and statements reinforce each other to draw a picture of the destiny of a European woman as a contribution to the on-going debate on immigration. 

Three portraits from this serie were juried through to Brewer J.C. Jacobsen’s Portrait Award ‘PORTRAIT NOW’ at the Frederiksborg Museum in 2007, 2009 and 2011. Twice printed as photogravure and once as a video.

The portrait consists of 12  large scale hand pulled photogravures on Zerkall Wove 340g in a limited edition.  A book with black/white photographs was published late 2010 in a limited edition of 100 and is sold out today.