Return to Dender

In the face of fear, I danced with my past - claiming the light that was mine at last.

When I was a child, I dreamed of fame—bold, undeniable fame, the kind that fills stadiums. But at age 40, I no longer seek to be seen by the world. Instead, I seek to see myself.

My ongoing photography project, Return to Dender, is a journey of self-discovery, healing, and unity. Growing up in Dendermonde, a small and tightly knit community, I often felt out of place, weighed down by shame and the expectations of others. Revisiting these familiar places, I dressed as Elvis Presley—a symbol of confidence and rebellion—and confronted the parts of myself I once tried to hide.

At first, embodying Elvis felt absurd, even humiliating. But through the lens of my camera, his flamboyant persona became both a shield and a mirror. Picture by picture, I bridged the gap between my younger self and the person I am now. In these moments, I began to shed the shame that had divided me from my past. I embraced the inner child I had buried beneath fear, allowing her to play freely.

This project is more than personal growth; it reflects a shared human truth. Shame isolates us, yet facing it fosters connection—with ourselves, our history, and those around us. By stepping outside my comfort zone, I found harmony in spaces that once felt confining.

Return to Dender is a celebration of courage, vulnerability, and transformation. It is a farewell to fear and a declaration of self-worth. In a world often fractured by judgment, it’s a call to reconcile with our stories, find compassion in our differences, and build unity through self-acceptance.