https://www.neckelscholtus.com/fr/artworks-expo-in-situ-khn-texte/
These are hunters posing proudly with their day's catch, young schoolgirls sitting demurely at their desks, views of a lakeside cottage, or children at the beach facing the camera with broad smiles. It doesn't matter if the images are sometimes a little blurry; the memories attached to them have often become blurry as well. Such is the fate of family photos. They are taken in the joy of the moment, to later commemorate a significant event in family life: a birthday, a wedding, the birth of a child, or even a vacation under a sunny sky. They are brimming with stories that perpetuate the memory, while simultaneously affirming the family's identity and its members' belonging to the same group. Over time, however, the anecdotes lose their clarity. Memory becomes less sharp, and the photos are stored in boxes, drawers, or suitcases, where they are gradually forgotten. Neckel Scholtus draws on this familiar and familial imagery, both powerful and seemingly innocuous, to breathe new life into it. She delves into photo albums and boxes, tenderly and respectfully, searching for visual or emotional traces that can reconnect the present to the past. She selects, then juxtaposes or superimposes these images that have lost their voice, giving them back their expression through the new stories that emerge from their encounters. Importantly, Neckel Scholtus's work is the result of a collaborative effort. For this exhibition, the artist reached out to residents of the Cipa Gréngewald retirement home, the Syrdall Heem retirement home, and the Geschichtsfrënn vun der Gemeng Nidderaanwen association. Together, they explored hundreds of photographs and discussed their emotional value and the memories they evoke before making a selection. The works presented are thus the product of a rich and fruitful exchange. They immerse us in the past and yet open up new narrative spaces by extending the existence of these treasures of private life into the public sphere. Françoise Poos, 14/04/2018