FESTIVAL FRENZY
FESTIVAL FRENZY : Since 1975, the Rijksmuseum has hosted the annual “Document Nederland” exhibition, inviting a Dutch photographer each year to explore a significant social issue. Once showcased at the museum, the resulting work becomes part of its archive, preserving it as a valuable reference for future generations.
For the 2024 edition of Document Nederland, Eddo Hartmann turned his lens on the culture and architecture of festivals, focusing on the contrast between individual experience and the overwhelming collectivity of the crowd. Across the Netherlands, major music festivals attract vast, exuberant audiences.
These festivals evolve into vibrant cultural hotspots where millions of music fans discover a sense of freedom in an ever-shifting world. In just a few days, fields and natural landscapes are transformed into temporary cities, complete with plastic walkways, numerous amenities, and even their own currencies. Obviously the environmental impact grows more pronounced with each passing year.
Hartmann’s photographic techniques—such as exceptionally long exposures and the use of strobe lighting—manipulate time itself, capturing crowds that seem to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. His images not only highlight the collective energy of the festival experience but also isolate individual moments, from visitors fully immersed to those seeking a brief moment of respite.
Dakota, 909 festival, Het Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen, June 1, 2024
Johan, ASM festival, Stadsblokken, Arnhem, May 18, 2024.
Riquelme, Milkshake, Westerpark, Amsterdam, July 28, 2024.
West Village, Freshtival Weekend, Het Ruthbeek Park, Enschede, May 18th 2024
Koen, Zwarte Cross, Lichtenvoorde, July 21, 2024
Entrance Apollo Podium, Paaspop, Schijndel, March 31, 2024
Merchandise corner, Defcon. 01, Biddinghuizen, June 30, 2024
Siver Stage, Defcon. 01, Biddinghuizen, June 30, 2024
Fabienne en Frederique, Dance4Liberation, Wijthmenerplas, Zwolle, May 5, 2024
Miss Neon Noire, Milkshake, Westerpark, Amsterdam, July 30, 2023
Marciano, Milkshake, Westerpark, Amsterdam, July 28, 2024
Kayra, Zwarte Cross, Lichtenvoorde, July 21, 2024
Working for the Rijksmuseum
Short film about the creation of "Festival Frenzy" documentary project. Since 1975 the Rijksmuseum photography commission Document Nederland has generated more than 3,000 photographs, recording over forty years of Dutch history. The museum continues to commission a Dutch photographer every year to research and document a topic at the forefront of Dutch society and culture. This and the fact that Document Nederland is one of the few long- running photographic commissions in the world make it unique of its kind. The com- mission was born out of the Rijksmuseum’s desire to collect contemporary history as it happens, in the present. Photography has proved to be the ideal medium for this. True to tradition, the Rijksmuseum has consistently prioritised the visual quality of the commission. The resulting series offer a unique overview of the visible changes in Dutch society.