TITLE: Passing By

Uzbekistan is a once in a lifetime experience, and Pieter Henket, a skilled photographer, was invited there by his professor father, Hubert-Jan Henket. The story began though, sixty years ago, when his father had romantic involvement with a communist woman in the Soviet Union during its heyday. Travel to the Soviet Union was somewhat easier after Stalin's death after the succession was transferred to Russia which made it possible for Hubert Jan Henket to see the woman he had fallen for. Hubert-Jan Henket has been absent ever since; it wasn't until 60 years later that he made the decision to bring his son Pieter to Uzbekistan. Thus, "passing by," was born out of this process. The inhabitants of Uzbekistan are the focus of this new photographic series. Nevertheless, using a distinct method. Artist Pieter Henket, known for his work in staged photography, crafted a hidden story for this project. He avoided staged situations in favor of blending in with Uzbek citizens via cars, hidden spots, and of course simply by "Passing By", capturing the culture and flavor of everyday life for the people of Uzbekistan.

AUTHOR: Pieter Henket (United States)

Pieter Henket is a Dutch photographer living and working in New York City known for a photographic style that takes inspiration from the 17th century Dutch Golden Age of painting. His notable work includes photographing Congolese acting out their mythologies in the Congo rainforest for the photo series and book Congo Tales, published by Random House in 2018. His portraits of the people who call the Congo rainforest home made world news, and was featured on the front page of the New York Times Arts section, the front page of the New York Times International Edition, and on PBS News Hour, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, BBC Radio, and dozens of other world media outlets. His other published books include The Way I See It (Uitgeverij De Kunst, 2013) and Stars to the Sun (Lannoo Publishers/Racine, 2014). Pieter is also known for celebrity portraiture, including, notably, shooting the cover of Lady Gaga’s debut album The Fame.

Pieter’s photography has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; the Museum de Fundatie in The Netherlands; and the Museum Barberini in Germany. His work has been included in numerous private and museum collections around the world, including the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Pieter’s Congo Tales photo series is also the main presentation of the Democratic Republic of The Congo at the 2021 World Expo in Dubai.

Pieter is currently at work producing his new photo series and book, Birds of Mexico.