In her practice, Sandim uses photography as a starting point to explore the concept of identity within and between cultures.
Born in the Netherlands with a Cape Verdean background, she approaches her work from an intersectional context, using these two worlds as the foundation for her artistic research.
Every two years, Enschede hosts the major photography festival of the East: the Fotomanifestatie Enschede. During this event, the entire city celebrates contemporary Dutch photography. Exhibitions are held in leading art spaces, including Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Concordia, and Tetem, featuring work by top photographers. The public space is also involved in the festival, and a wide-ranging program of lectures and workshops offers further depth. Soon, no one will be able to ignore it: a manifestation of talent within photography will take over Enschede!
The theme of this year’s edition is Colors of Life. In this context, we present the work of Sandim Mendes in our glass exhibition space.
For this photo series, Mendes was inspired by the African mask tradition. African masks are used in ritual celebrations and ceremonies to create a bridge to the world of spirits, ancestors, and gods. The artist was fascinated by how these spiritual practices affect the subconscious. Her interpretation of this traditional mask practice resulted in a contemporary version, in which she developed handmade costumes and masks. By recreating these masks, she raises the question of whether such a connection with the ancestors could also take place within her current context.