The village of Doel is a symbol (notoriously known in Belgium) of reckless industrial expansion. Since the seventies, the Port of Antwerp has been persuading the inhabitants of Doel to sell their houses and leave to free the space for a new dock. After decades of evictions, trials, protests, looting and squatting, the dock has never been built. Meanwhile, the number of Doelers has dropped from approximately 900 to mere 25.
While becoming more and more a ghost of a residential area, Doel gained a new unexpected status. It became a unique canvas for countless artists to come and leave their works. The artistic, ephemeral atmosphere made Doel a weekend goal of so-called "ramptoeristen;" people coming to see this spectacular disaster live and catch the bizarre genius loci with their cameras. Some though come to Doel, formerly a decent leisure weekend destination, simply by habit. Meanwhile, life continues inside of few remaining households.
The serie "Images of Doel" was my diploma work on KASK, Belgium, in 2012.