Aimée Hoving

Photography is an art, which can reflect reality or fabricate it entirely. It is another way of telling stories with images, without words, by triggering reactions and emotions, by appealing to the imagination of the viewer who will re-create the missing pieces: the before, the after, and sometimes even the during.

Aimée Hoving’s series portrays an eight-year old girl patiently posing for a photographer. But at the same time, it is a collaborative oeuvre between mother and daughter, sharing special moments despite the external hustle and bustle. Aimée starts the process; her daughter interprets it and adds her personal touch.

A child, that is caught in different symbolic moments. Little girl stories we tell ourselves to be scared or comforted, stories of reflections, of mirrors, of projections. It’s a conversation: what the mother would like to see, what the girl is willing to share from her imaginary universe.

Each image is a story, that of Aimée, that of the place of where the image was taken. Each story is also that of the girl, who gives the title to the images. The pictures are like windows open onto her imagination, which grab at the imagination of the beholder.

But the daughter is also hiding in plain sight. The hiding part started when Flavia did not want to be photographed, it became a sort of a game. So later on, in the pictures hiding her face would enable Aimée to shoot even if Flavia would make a grin or angry faces.

This on-going photo project started at the end of 2016. It will continue for a very long time. These pictures have all been taken in natural light, and are all set up and staged, using props from Aimee’s childhood, her dresses from when she was a child, locations she saw as a child.

Bloemenvelden

Flying legs

Tea Time

The Thing

The smoking Dollhouse

Into the wild

Red Carpet

Maskarade

La danseuse au sac

Elly

Bloemenvelden

Flying legs

Tea Time

The Thing

The smoking Dollhouse

Into the wild

Red Carpet

Maskarade

La danseuse au sac

Elly