What's it like growing up on a remote island with a troubled past?
Indonesia's Banda Islands were once the only place on earth where nutmeg grew. In 1621 the VOC conquered the islands. 400 years later you can still see the remnants of Dutch domination everywhere. In the landscape – fortresses, churches, cannons – but also in culture and language. I wanted to portray the young people of Banda. What is it like for them to live on this historical site? And how do they see their future?
In 2016 I visited the Banda Islands for the first time and got the idea for the project. In the following three years I immerse myself into Banda's history, I give photography workshops to Bandanese children and young adults, build a local network, and get to know and love the six main characters of 'I love Banda': Ulfa, Ode, Nyellow, Nabila, Mega Vani and Karis.
'I love Banda' is a layered media project, with photos, iPhone videos, drone footage, 360 degree videos and interviews.
The book I love Banda is self-published, here you can view and buy it.
In 2019 the project was on display on the Banda Islands ('my' youngsters helped to set up the exhibition and made cheerful selfies with their portraits during the opening). In 2021 the project was on display for 6 months in the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. For the Erasmus Huis in Jakarta, my team and I customised the exhibition for a young Indonesian audience. In the spring of 2022, more than 700 young people shared their opinion on reaction cards. And it was an absolute joy to do workshops together with students.
'The exhibition of photos by Isabelle Boon is beautiful and offers plenty of new insights into the complex ties between the Netherlands and Indonesia, now and then.' – Parool, 14 May 2021
Various newspapers and magazines wrote about 'I love Banda', here you can read the thorough article from Het Parool. I was also a guest in the radio programs Opium (Radio 4) and Met het oog op morgen (NOS). Indonesian newspaper The Jakarta Post dedicated this page to it and Kompasiana's article can be read here.
Opium-presenter Andrea van Pol: 'A really beautiful book, with an important historical story and beautiful photos.'
NRC Handelsblad: 'Intimate visual stories.'
Nabila, from 'I love Banda': 'My favorite photo is the one in which I am happily jumping, with the green pala trees as the background. I love Isabelle.'
Jalu, visitor of the exhibition: 'I grew up in Indonesia myself and was moved by your series. Those singing boys brought tears to my eyes.'
The project was made possible thanks to 100 involved crowdfunders, the enthusiasm of several experts and the support of DutchCulture and Marinus Plantema Foundation.