My artwork explores the interplay between psychology, environment and identity formation. Specifically, I photograph moments that depict underlying human behavior, emotions, and feelings, then contextualize them into stories that define a person's group affiliations and self-concepts. I ask questions about why and how people become who they are to understand how individuals shape their identities and seek social belonging. A person’s identifying groups can define a large portion of pride and self-esteem and contribute to a larger synthesis of social narratives. The photographs I create are manifestations of the aforementioned in combination with visual representations of the underlying psychology that plays a role in a person's identity. I’ve been inspired by my own journey of self-discovery and personal growth, and I’ve poured a lot of my artistic energy into researching the psychological aspects of identity. Understanding who we are and the groups we affiliate with helps us gain deeper insight into our behavior as humans and can provide insight into the reasons behind our actions. Ultimately, this understanding empowers us to shape larger social narratives and is the basis for my art.
Rennan Kooistra CV
Instagram: renkooistra