Saskia Holtjer is a photographer and together with the OVAA foundation and ‘Eindhoven in dialog’ she is working on the project ‘dialog and diversity’ in Eindhoven. The end result of this project will be shown throughout the city in the first week of November: photos of the more than one hundred and fifty different nationalities that go to make up Eindhoven.

Photographer Saskia Holtjer: “About two years ago it came to my attention that there are people from more than one hundred and fifty different countries living and working in Eindhoven. It had never occurred to me, and I thought it would be a good thing to make this more visible. The idea took me to the OOVA foundation, a foundation for diversity in Eindhoven. We submitted a project to the municipality, which was approved. During the first weekend of November banners will be hung up in the city center, each of which shows a photo of someone with another nationality, with a different story.”

Meanwhile Saskia has photographed people from seventy different cultures. “I try to look for non-stereotypical persons. The other day I was on the bus and the bus driver spoke with an accent. I approached her and she turned out to be from Poland and thought it would be fun to join in. A female bus driver from Poland, surely you don’t see that every day! As soon as I hear an accent, I have my ears cocked. It’s a bit like collecting football pictures – in fact I am collecting foreigners. Then I check my list and think: oh no, I’ve already got that one. I do have a shortage of men, by the way, as I find it easier to approach women. I hope that this article in Cursor may prove a good way to collect more men, but women also are still more than welcome!”

Two persons from TU/e have meanwhile had their photos taken, including Nita Vertala, a student of Industrial Design from Finland (see photo). Nita: “I took part in this project because I find social and cultural subjects important - as a designer and as an expat. It is interesting to see how this project shows the diversity in Eindhoven. For me it represents what it feels like to let go of what is safe and familiar, and in that way to realize your dreams.” (HB)

Would you like to participate in Saskia’s photo reportage? Check out: www.saskiaholtjer.nl.

Nita Vertala. Photo | Saskia Holtjer