A home of one's own

From 22 February to 3 May 2025 (one week longer), Pennings Foundation will present the exhibition A HOME OF ONE’S OWN, on the representation of the homeless.

The representation of a homeless person, an unkempt man sleeping on a bench in a park, has long since ceased to be true. Causes are not always addiction or psychological problems. Housing shortage, youth care that stops at eighteen, illegal stay, losing your job, debts, being thrown out of your home are the causes of today. Adversity can happen to anyone.

For ‘A home of one’s own’, Pennings Foundation is working with Het Beelddepot of the Journalism programme (Fontys, Tilburg), which aims to break through the stereotypical and stigmatising image of the homeless in the media by setting up an image bank, and with Het Bouwdepot, which focuses on young people in vulnerable situations. A pilot project started in Eindhoven a few years ago. In addition, a project from the Eindhoven organization Springplank / Stop the silence is shown.

Invisibility and anonymization

Rick van der Klooster depicts the anonymity of homeless youth in Rotterdam through photographic shadows. The individuals themselves are hidden by an algorithm in a software program, emphasizing their anonymity.

What does 'home' mean?

In her short film "Between small places," Robin Alysha Clemens follows the homeless American writer Brian, who has been living on the streets of Amsterdam for years. Brian philosophizes about the concept of 'home' and lovingly cares for his surroundings while observing society from the sidelines.

Paths of freedom

Rick Zwart, a young person from a pilot project by the municipality of Eindhoven, depicts in his photography the freedom that Het Bouwdepot offers him. The paths he walks, both literally and figuratively, symbolize the conscious choices he makes in the right direction.

Constructive journalism

Journalists have become more constructive in reporting on homelessness in recent years, but the imagery has lagged behind, often showing white middle-aged men with litter or alcohol in the background. Dingena Mol presents a different image.

A day in the life of a homeless youth

In her photo series, Wiosna van Bon provides a glimpse into the lives of three homeless youth in the Netherlands. She shows their daily activities and the challenges they face.

Social organizations

Desiré van den Berg follows Halima and Mihreteab, two individuals who receive help from social organizations. She shows their lives in the city (Deventer) and the support they receive.

Alternative forms of shelter and living

Boudewijn Bollmann focuses on alternative forms of shelter and living, such as shared housing, Parentshouse, and Skaeve Huse. Cloud temporarily lives in Paula’s house in Amsterdam, arranged through the Regenboog Groep. They have a good bond and support each other in their daily lives. Lotty and Krista, two mothers going through a divorce, temporarily live in a Parentshouse in Amsterdam. They support each other and try to get their lives back on track. Bryan lives in a tiny house from Skaeve Huse, a housing form for city residents who cause extreme nuisance. He has a unique life story, enjoys the peace, and receives guidance.

Stop the Silence

Springplank presents the installation ‘Stop the Silence’,  which shows how close we actually are to each other and how easily someone can become homeless. The installation calls for breaking the silence and stopping prejudices.

Photographs: Ruud Balk, Lieke Winters