MEER, Hans van der - Het Moet Anders / Time To Change

Background information

"‘Het Moet Anders’ (engl.: time to change) is a sentence photographer Hans van der MEER has heard more than once during his visits to farmers throughout the Netherlands. With his latest book and exhibition Hans VAN DER MEER shows us the remarkable world of dairy farming. 'Time to Change' offers a fascinating insight into the lives of cows and the changing countryside, while at the same time questioning the industry’s current state and future. Over the past few decades, the gap between the consumer and the world of the cow has been growing and growing. Hans VAN DER MEER lives in the centre of Amsterdam, but when his farmer friend Jaap Hemke goes on holiday, Hans looks after the farm.  He has been doing this for nearly twenty years, stimulating a deep interest and a particular insight into dairy farming. Through photography, film and writing Van der Meer examines the world around him. In 'Time to Change / Het Moet Anders' Hans van der MEER is looking at and thinking about cows and consequently dairy farming, animal welfare, hi-tech food production and its impact on the environment. Hans van der MEER’s pictures are the trigger for a series of observations highlighting the complexity of modern farming. In addition, he asked farmers and innovators the question how to continue and in which direction. In many of the photos the cow looks puzzled. Or is it that she’s questioning us? How will we be shaping the future in food production? And what will the role of the animals be in it? A few years ago, the Netherlands Fotomuseum invited Hans van der MEER to create a photo series inspired by Cas OORTHUYS’ book 'Rundvee' (1948) in their collection. This triggered the project 'Time to Change'. In 2016, a preview of the project was shown at the Fries Museum, accompanied by a series of columns in Dutch newspaper 'De Volkskrant'. The exhibition and newspaper series both included texts and photographs by Hans van der MEER, addressing issues like permaculture, health issues and milk production. The photo volume, 'Time to Change / Het Moet Anders' and complete exhibition has been launched at the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar on 30 June 2018.

Content

Designed by KUMMER & HERMAN, the book 'Time to Change / Het Moet Anders' includes 54 photographs by Hans van der Meer, accompanied by 27 columns linking the present to the past and future of dairy farming. The book 'Time to Change / Het Moet Anders' also includes 10 videos by Van der Meer, which readers can access on their phone by scanning the QR codes. The videos show f.e. the process of hoof and claw cutting with a special machine, a necessary task to keep the cow’s hoofs healthy. It was done by hand for a long time, technological progress increased productivity." (publisher's note, © paradox, 2018)

About Dutch photographer, Hans van der MEER (b.1955)

Photo books by Hans van der MEER