Indisch Zwijgen

At Fonds ZOZ, I initiated and directed a series of documentary-style portraits that shift the spotlight from the projects we support to the people and personal stories behind them.

The series began with Indisch Zwijgen, a documentary exploring how third-generation Indo-Dutch young people navigate the silences surrounding their families' histories.
 

BEYOND THE PROJECT

The idea grew from a simple belief: behind every project is a person with a story worth hearing. I developed the series as part of a broader communications strategy to bring the fund's mission closer to people, moving beyond what a project achieves to explore what drives its maker.
 

A DOCUMENTARY APPROACH

Rather than creating conventional promotional content, I chose an intimate, documentary-led format that gives makers room to speak in their own words. Through personal reflections and conversations, the portraits invite audiences to look beyond familiar narratives and discover the experiences, questions and perspectives that shape the work.
 

MAKING STORIES MATTER

By placing people at the centre, the series makes complex social themes more tangible and accessible. It connects the wider ambitions of Fonds ZOZ to lived experiences, while offering other makers a glimpse into the personal journeys behind socially engaged art.

For me, it's a reminder that meaningful storytelling doesn't always begin with what someone creates, but with what moves them to create it.