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Background information & Statement by the photographer, Machiel BOTMAN
The images I used for 'Heartbeat' were taken without any intent to publish them in a book. I never was much of a planner and I photographed from intuition, always kind of reacting to things. I began by photographing directly around me. And that never changed much, except of course, my circles of living life became larger, or different, or something.
Between the end of 1990 and 1994 I made about seven different dummies for 'Heartbeat'. Some with fiberprints, the others photocopied. This began after the unexpected passing away of my mother. I had photographed about 15 years and made selections from that period, about her of course, and about everything else that mattered: my relationships, my brother, my friends, my son and the places where I lived, mostly in The Netherlands and in France. 'Heartbeat' became a visual poem in which happiness and sadness went hand in hand. Nothing was linear or chronological in the book." (© Machiel BOTMAN)
Content
The long out-of-print photo volume 'Heartbeat' by Machiel BOTMAN consists of grainy, contemplative black-and-white shots accompanied by poetic text. The autobiographical and non-linear style of the work suggests the transient nature of life.