Three internationally renowned photographers were commissioned to divulge the story of centuries old 'borgen' (farm-castles) and churches. The photographers are Machiel Botman (Netherlands, 1955), Andreas Gefeller (Germany, 1970) and Terri Weifenbach (USA, 1957). The commission was also given to Marco Wiegers (Netherlands, 1973), a local talent who graduated from Academy Minerva a few years back.

The four photographers are binded by their fascination with locations and their talent for luring a hidden atmosphere from them. Nature and heritage, be it in different ways, are of importance to all of them.

The photobook Hidden Sites is luxuriously designed and printed at high quality. It contains most of the exhibited photographs and an introduction by Marjoleine de Vos.
It is priced at 19,50 euro and is for sale at Estate Verhildersum, in our webshop. The Dutch edition contains extra literary texts.

Machiel Botman

Nederland

Andreas Gefeller

Duitsland

Terri Weifenbach

Verenigde Staten

Marco Wiegers

Nederland

Under the name 'Hidden Sites' the Foundation for Old Groningen Churches, the Foundation Landscape Management Groningen and the Foundation Private Historical Sites work on the reconditioning of cultural-historical relevant terrains. Over de period 2002-2007 some twenty of such locations will undergo renovation. The foundations have also set themselves the goal of increasing awareness for these terrains with the broader audience.

In this context, after proposal by and in cooperation with Noorderlicht, the four photographers were commissioned to lay bare the mystical and hidden character of these ancient sites. Estate Verhildersum in Leens, one of the last borg terrains still existing in the province of Groningen, was the first fitting decor for the surprising exhibition that resulted from these commissions during the summer of 2005.