JAAP
by Jasper Maars
portfolio special mention call 'Urbanautica Institute Awards 2025', 2025
Category: Memories and Traditions
I photographed my grandfather – Jaap - who lived alone in his > 100-year-old house. Jaap's son – my father - planned to renovate the house, but his son unexpectedly died young. The rickety house remained untouched with Jaap grounded there in his own way. He collected and ate herbs for medicinal purposes, favouring them over conventional medicines he got from doctors. In conversations, he reflected on old memories and the fragmented lives of relatives. As he aged he became aware that his practices may get forgotten in the family when he is no longer there. Jaap started teaching me his ways of picking plants to pass on his habits to a younger generation. These habits have been captured during the final years of Jaap his life.