I want to hold you

I Want to Hold You is a collective exhibition by Master students in Photography and Curatorial Studies at KASK & Conservatorium. Presented from March 28 to 30, 2025 at Zwarte Zaal and MAP, the exhibition explores how the act of holding—emotionally, physically, or metaphorically—can take shape through photographic practices.

As part of an annual collaboration between the two programmes, the exhibition creates a shared space for dialogue between artistic and curatorial voices. In addition to the exhibition, a publication accompanies the project.

Curated by Marie Cathérine Stalpaert, Gustav-Adam Dendooven, Emilia-Naomi Keller, Nina Turina, and Arthur Saint-Remy.

Exhibition outline

I Want to Hold You emphasises and focuses on sensibility as a central aspect of artistic approaches, highlighting the importance of ‘holding’ as a key element inherent in photographic practices. The exhibition proposes different ways of interpreting the idea of holding as a framework for the participating positions. To hold a subject, someone; to hold - onto something; to hold a thing - close, or at a certain distance; to hold space for (one)another, and to hold - also in the sense of to contain. While the medium of photography is initially quickly thought of as a ‘flat’, two-dimensional one, this exhibition unfolds its vessel-like qualities.

( I Want to Hold You identifies sensitivity as a central aspect in all featured artistic practices, holding the subject close as an intentional act, thus differentiating what is personal from the mass stream of (mis)information and imagery. As reality becomes less graspable and more debilitating, the included artists have identified something that they want to hold space for, possibly hold onto - something to break up the ungraspable current. Some draw attention to their relationship with people they hold close, sharing their loving eye with the viewer. Others use their practice as a way of capturing, giving and holding energy, culture and atmospheres they feel the need to share.)

All images: Margo Cathry