Sonder - Lenox Avenue
NYC, 2023
Edition:
10x 21x28 cm (approx. 8.5x11”)
6x 37,5x50 cm (approx. 16x20”)
3x 52,5x70 cm (approx. 20x30”)Printed on Photo Rag Satin paper + 1 cm white border
Delivered with a numbered and digitally signed certificate of authenticity
"This photograph is part of my new series called Sonder.
Sonder is “the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own, with their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It’s the feeling of being acutely aware of the depth and richness of the lives of strangers around you”. This term was created by John Koenig for his “Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
As I became aware of the profound meaning of Sonder, I realized that I unconsciously explore this concept recognizing the unique lives and humanity in all people, regardless of their circumstances. Watching different lives pass by our bedroom window in Harlem creates quiet, introspective moments, revealing the shared human experience, and allowing me to appreciate the beauty found in the ordinary lives of strangers."
Chantal Heijnen (1976, The Netherlands) is a New York-based photo artist known for her documentary and portrait photography. With a background in social work and a BA in Photography, her career as a social worker greatly informs her observant and collaborative approach to imagemaking. Her work is intimate, sensitive and socially engaged. Chantal is also a dedicated educator, teaching photography to teenagers at the International Center of Photography and working with New Yorkers in shelters through Lantern Community Services. Her photography has been featured in publications like The New York Times, Washington Post and exhibited at renowned venues including the Museum of the City of New York, Bronx Documentary Center , LagosPhoto Festival and Photoville.