Photographer Anoek van Nunen was ready to photograph the premiere of trumpet player Michael Varekamp’s new show on 12 March 2020, when the first COVID measures were announced. The performance was cancelled and the dejection and desperation on the trumpet player's face were clearly visible. Right away, Anoek thought: 'I have to document this'.
She decided to photograph artists in empty halls, where their performances would have taken place before they were cancelled. It’s quite surreal to see Dutch artists such as Freek de Jonge, Francis van Broekhuizen and Lee Towers on stage in a hall without an audience.
With the ‘Cancelled' photo series, Anoek has registered the affected artists and their unbridled passion for their profession and their deep longing for sold-out venues and in doing so has captured unique zeitgeist image.
