Introduction

Introduction

“Hangjongeren” is a term, which refers to teenagers who gather as groups in the streets or in public places like schoolyards or squares. They discuss daily topics, smoke a cigarette and enjoy each others company. Dutch teenagers don’t hang around much after school. Dutch culture dictates that you go home after school and participate in various sports or other activities. Teenagers of immigrant groups such as Moroccans and Turks “hang”.

I had my atelier in the Balistraat in the “Indische Buurt”, a neighbourhood in Amsterdam, residence to first generation and second generation of people from Moroccan or Turkish descent. Opposite of my workspace was the JEC (Young Empowerment Centre), places created by municipal authorities where teenagers can “hang” so they are not a disturbance for the community. Still they use other public places to “hang” and one of them was in front of my window. These groups of teenagers receive hostile reactions from the community especially when they “hang” in streets or other public places which are not designated for “hanging”. Instead of sending them away – something many inhabitants around me would do – I decided to engage in conversation.

One of the teenagers asked me to paint them, but instead I decided to “hang” with them. I wanted to understand their world. Be part of their culture. I went to see them once a week. I did not have a specific agenda when I met them. I just engaged in conversation with them and asked them many questions. Sometimes I used a camera, but sometimes this was not appreciated.

Art

I created a video and photographs of the teenagers while “hanging” and I held presentations during local festivals to show the pictures to create a positive image.

In the video teenagers rap and tell about their life, teenagers from the East Side and teenagers from ‘Amsterdam Zuid-Oost’. East Side is a word that Moroccans and Turkish teenagers use for the area they live in, which is called ‘Amsterdam-Oost’. The area South-East of Amsterdam is the area in which the most of the first, second and third generation of people with Antillean and Surinam descent live. These teenagers where in the same situation as the Moroccans are right now. In the video you will see that the Antilleans and the Surinamese now in their twenties identify themselves as Dutch citizens, even though they were all considered “Hangjongeren”. Maybe it is just a transitional phase towards adulthood. Part of the presentation is the creation of a “hanging” place; couches (20 in total) were put on the street. People could watch the video and chat.

12 Billboard size photographs of people hanging out on the street are placed in the windows opposite of the ‘Atjehplein’, a famous “hanging place” in the ‘Indische Buurt’, next to the ‘Balistraat’.

Purpose 

The purpose of this project is to attack and deconstruct the stereotypes in Dutch society of the “hangjongeren”. The “hangjongeren” are portrayed extremely negatively in the Dutch media. Spending time with them revealed a completely different picture of who they are. They are very welcoming, creative and eager to tell their stories. In their culture, groups of friends (mostly males) gather to spend time and tell each other stories. They don’t have the money to participate in sports and other organized activities like many Dutch teenagers do.

Another purpose was to create art from subcultures. Rap was created in a sub culture. “Wielietrek” (driving on one wheel on a scooter) is another activity, which was created by these groups of teenagers. I wanted to use media techniques (video, photography) to lift this activity into the art scene.

With the photographs, I wanted to show another side of the teenagers to increase their acceptance as individuals and as a group. As teenagers, we all “hung out”. We all spent time in public places with our friends, but it seems that most people have forgotten. I believe “hanging” can have many positive effects as well. It creates a sense of community and you get to know people in an informal way. I did experience the negative impressions, which are described in the media of these groups. They engage in criminal activities such as shoplifting, stealing bikes and other minor offences. They also use tactics of intimidation.

With the video, I want to accomplish similar results as with the photographs. I want people to accept these teenagers. A lack of communication is the root to so many of our problems. One of the main elements of this project is to engage in a dialogue with the teenagers. Approach it from different angles. This project is about shifting perception, even if it’s only for a moment, and seeing so much more. It’s about looking at the bigger picture. The media and the government pick up and choose what they show to us. They silence the opposition. They polarize the public image by labelling one side as ‘the bad guys’ and the other side as ‘the good guys’. Let’s put ourselves in their shoes and attempt to connect and to understand. It’s not about THEM and US, or Dutch and Moroccan or Turkish. It is about being human.

Result

People in the neighbourhood of the ‘Atjehplein’ are proud of the photographs displayed opposite of the square. They recognize people they known. Teenagers identify themselves with the pictures of ‘wielietrek’ and soccer (keeping the ball in the air).

People were impressed by the video, which showed another unknown side of the teenagers. The video opened the discussion about “hanging” and safety on the street. Stadsdeel Zeeburg (the local government of the area Zeeburg, which includes Amsterdam-Oost) will use the results of the video (that teenagers need places to “hang”) in the redesign of four squares in the ‘Indische Buurt’. The “Art of hanging” is now part of the discussion. “Hanging” is ingrained in people from Southern countries. Wouldn’t it be great to make this social behaviour part of living in Amsterdam?