In a time when the line between the real world and artificial imagery is increasingly blurred, the exhibition Defiantly Real offers a moment of pause and reflection. From September 3 to 5, OTEC brings together the work of photographers Nanda Hagenaars, Eelco Wortman, and Thom Eisenga in the historic Meterhuisje at Westergas, Amsterdam.

The exhibition explores what it means to be authentically present in a tangible world. The artists challenge you not merely to glance, but to slow down and consciously observe what lies beneath the surface.

• 3 - 5 September
• 11:00 - 19:00
• Meterhuisje, Westergas (Amsterdam)

Free entrance

Eelco Wortman
Eelco gets intrigued by the human condition and daily situations, often overlooked by most of us. His candid photographs have a strong focus on storytelling and detail, mostly to be found in an urban environment. Influenced by traditional street- and film photography, he loves to work with (natural) light, colour, shape and contrast.

Nanda Hagenaars
The human being forms the central subject in Nanda Hagenaars’ work. In her black-and-white photography, she explores how we perceive ourselves, each other, and the reality around us. By fragmenting, doubling, and distorting bodies and faces, the familiar sometimes shifts into the enigmatic. Her images arise from an intuitive process that intentionally leaves room for chance and imperfection. Moving between reality and imagination, the work touches on themes of vulnerability, identity, perception, and transformation.

Thom Eisenga
Winner of the photography contest
Thom Eisenga is a traveler with an eye for the human soul. Often exploring the world on the two wheels of his bicycle, he turns quiet encounters along the road into intimate visual portraits. Through the timeless simplicity of black and white photography, Thom captures a rare connection with his subjects, leaving the viewer longing to know the untold stories behind every face, raw emotion, and shared moment.