Les Voyeuses Jeannine Unsen

“Have you been here, dad?”

INTENTION

“As a child, I always visualised the ​‘olden days’ in black and white. I was utterly convinced that in my parents’ ​‘old world’, colours simply didn’t exist – it couldn’t be any other way. When imagining my dad as a young man, I pictured him working in monochrome motion.

Being the daughter of a bus company owner, these black and white photographs instantly transported me back to my childhood. They triggered a flood of memories — not just sights but sounds and smells too. I could feel the chill of the garage, catch whiffs of metal and oil, and hear the clatter of tools and mechanics at work. But beyond that, I felt the warmth and family spirit.

Now, I use thread to breathe colour into these memories. It’s my way of weaving connections, fighting against the fading of time. I’m layering past and present, stitching together yesterday and today.”

BIOGRAPHY

Jeannine Unsen has been showcasing her work since the early 2000s, both in Luxembourg and abroad. Her Luxembourg exhibitions include a solo show, Odd, small and beautiful, at the Luxembourg City History Museum, as well as contributions to Murmures at Neimënster and ELO – Inner Exile, Outer Limits at Mudam Luxembourg – Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-duc Jean).

Internationally, her work has featured in events such as Nuit de l’Europe at Rencontres d’Arles (France), the China International Photography Festival in Pingyao, Reflections at the Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art in Sweden, and Visages d’Europe at Tour Saint Jacques in Paris, France.