Karin van de Wiel

Every Space is Touched by Past Ways of Life intertwines my own archives with vernacular photographs from the Lesbian Herstory Archives. It explores how spaces shape and are shaped by our histories and identities. 

In the Lesbian Herstory Archives, I found glimpses of everyday life, beyond the usual protest rallies and political meetings. It reveals hidden narratives of reclaiming public spaces in a less tolerant era. There is something I recognise in the photos of these lesbian women. A gesture, a posture or a glance. These personal moments echoed my own family’s photos. 

Soon, my family and I are relocating to my hometown, a place that is rich with my past. This decision made me reflect on the places of significance in my youth. One location, in particular, stood out: the artificial skiing mountain. 

I remember secretly stuffing my pockets with little round white plastic balls that enabled the skiers to slide effortless down the slope. I realised that if we can redesign nature, there is nothing we can’t do. That mountain symbolised the endless possibilities that the future held. Now, that same futuristic ski slope has become an environmental hazard. Repurposed from a former landfill, it is now polluting the groundwater with chemicals from dumped waste. 

It is reminding me how places and their meanings change over time.