This work shows the Eye Film Museum, an iconic building on the IJ waterfront in Amsterdam. Dutch-Hungarian photographer Satijn Panyigay (1988) deliberately photographed the back of the museum. 'The back of the building is calmer in terms of architecture and activity. Also, that perspective is less known.' With her camera, Panyigay likes to seek out the quiet as a space to reflect.
She took the photo at night during a full moon, using a large format camera with a minutes-long shutter speed. As a result, the stars in the sky and the movements of cyclists, mopeds, and boats appear as streaks of light. The use of an analog camera fits well with her way of working: slow and in search of stillness.
While photographing, Panyigay experienced a deep calm - a meditative moment. 'There was something magical about the passing clouds. The building resembled an iceberg in the coolness of the night.
In a hectic world where we are always switched on, Panyigay invites us, with her minimalist photography, to slow down. She hopes to inspire us to look at everyday things with more attention, and to take more time to process what we experience.
For a long time, she focused on photographing the interiors of empty buildings. For the past year, she has increasingly been capturing industrial architecture and the exteriors of office buildings – always at night.
Satijn Panyigay was born in Nijmegen and lives in Utrecht. Her work is included in the collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and has been shown in various museums, galleries, and art fairs.