Korte beschrijving/Annotatie

An investigation of the impact of brown coal extraction in Germany’s Rhineland, showing the emotional and physical toll of the mining operations.

Tekst achterflap

'Niemandsland' investigates the impact of brown coal extraction in Germany’s Rhineland, where some of Europe’s largest open-cast lignite mines have dramatically altered the landscape and contributed heavily to CO2 emissions. These mines have displaced entire villages, causing a sense of powerlessness among residents who grew up knowing that their homes would one day be destroyed. In 2012, environmental activists occupied Hambach Forest. Despite some success in preserving parts of the forest and five villages, a sixth village, Lützerath, was demolished. By engaging with the affected communities, Daniel Chatard (DE) shows the emotional and physical toll of the mining operations. A reminder of the costs of energy production and the enduring human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. 

Slogan/Promotie

'Niemandsland' investigates the impact of brown coal extraction in Germany’s Rhineland, where some of Europe’s largest open-cast lignite mines have dramatically altered the landscape and contributed heavily to CO2 emissions. These mines have displaced entire villages, causing a sense of powerlessness among residents who grew up knowing that their homes would one day be destroyed. In 2012, environmental activists occupied Hambach Forest. Despite some success in preserving parts of the forest and five villages, a sixth village, Lützerath, was demolished. By engaging with the affected communities, Daniel Chatard (DE) shows the emotional and physical toll of the mining operations. A reminder of the costs of energy production and the enduring human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. 

Biografie

Daniel Chatard (1996) is a German-French photographer based in Hamburg. He investigates themes revolving around power structures, collective identity, and trauma. Looking at landscapes as vessels of collective experiences and memories, he tries to develop new narratives and tell human stories in their environmental context. He holds a BA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hanover, and an MA in Photography & Society from the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. He also completed an exchange semester at Tomsk State University’s Faculty of Journalism in Russia. Since 2018, Chatard has worked as a freelance photojournalist for media outlets such as Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, Washington Post, National Geographic, and Stern. Besides editorial assignments, Daniel works on long-term projects, slowly accumulating materials over time. He describes his approach as involved documentary, making his own relations to his subjects part of the work and using collaboration to create new knowledge. His work was awarded with the 2024 World Press Photo Award for Long-Term Projects and a nomination for the Prix Pictet. He was also a finalist for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.

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