One shower a week
Just outside the Dutch village of Angeren (Gelderland), nine adults, five children, six sheep, lots of chickens and a dog live together in one house: intentional community De Brouwketel. The ‘Brouwketelaars’ try to live a self-sufficient and sustainable life. They grow their own fruit and vegetables, make yoghurt themselves and bake their own bread. They also consume as little water, electricity and plastic possible, while heating their house with firewood gathered from the land. Almost everything they need is bought at charity shops or handmade.
I have been photographing the residents of De Brouwketel for more than six years. I visit once every two months and often stay the night.
My numerous stays with the community opened up a new world to me. This world is shown in my book One shower a week (published April ‘24). My diary excerpts describe how I become more and more touched by De Brouwketelaars’ sustainable and slow way of living, their unconcernedness with outward appearances and relaxed attitude towards hygiene.
After publishing the book, I continued visiting and photographing De Brouwketel. However, something changed. Whereas in the beginning I found some aspects of life at the Brouwketel a little extreme, in the past two years I have truly fallen in love with this community. I admire their absolute care for the environment, closeness to nature, communal way of living and flexibility towards each other but also to people from outside. To me, this little spot on earth has become a ray of hope in an increasingly challenging world full of conflict and climate crises.
Selected for The Best Dutch Book Designs 2024
Honourable mention NPO Radio 1 non-fiction book of the month
Shortlist Photobook Award festival Diecixdieci
Shortlist Prix du Livre Rencontres d’Arles category Photo-Text Book 2024
Winner EI Photobook Award 2023
Shortlist Dummy Award 2023
Published in De Groene Amsterdammer, de Volkskrant, het Parool, Trouw, de Gelderlander, Dummy Magazin and Artdoc Photography Magazine. Awarded with the second prize of de Paul Peters Fotoprijs (Zilveren Camera).
I also made a short film: Humming.
marietdingemans.com 