Documenting the Danger to Democracy Willem Poelstra lecture 2024 by Jonas Bendiksen

Jonas Bendiksen captivates the power of photography

Jan 18, 2024 | The Willem Poelstra Lecture

Jonas Bendiksen delivered the annual The Willem Poelstra Lecture at Pakhuis de Zwijger and he did this full of passion and commitment. 

It was a great honor to hear and see Jonas Bendiksen give his lecture: skillfully and passionately he walked the audience through his unique projects such as his latest ‘The Book of Veles.’ He emphasized that photography is not just about capturing aesthetically pleasing images but rather about using it as a tool to tell stories and create narratives that convey meaningful insights about the world around us.

Bendiksen approaches his projects with a particular curiosity and openness that takes the photographer to undiscovered territories. Over 220 enthusiasts listened to his captivating narrative about the adventures he experienced in recent years.

The lecture, in honor of the late Willem Poelstra, was part of a thematic program at Pakhuis de Zwijger initiated by VII Insider (a program of The VII Foundation in collaboration with PhotoWings) and Forhanna, and took place on 17 January 2024 at Pakhuis de Zwijger.

Other speakers where Dr. David Campbell, director of VII Insider, Dr. Claire Wardle, co-director of the Information Futures Lab and Peter Burger, from Nieuwscheckers, both interviewed by Marc Prüst and Frits Gierstberg, curator at Nederlands Fotomuseum Museum in Rotterdam.

You can watch the live feed of the entire evening underneath.