Dear journalist, editor, art director, curator, graphic designer, writer, psychologist, farmer, builder, brother, Mr. President, Have we met you before? If not, we’d love to. How does the 4th of July 2015 sound? Let’s meet at the graduation exhibition of the Photography Department, at the Royal of Art Academy in the Hague. There’s something we’d like to show you. Photographs, audiovisual productions, interactive media, publications; projects from over forty photographers that vary in form from fashion editorials, to socially engaged documentaries. Our choice of subjects is even more diverse, and is guaranteed to offer you a mix of contemporary and authentic views of young photographers, who are more determined than ever to connect. We’ve completed our study as photographers in a time where visual media are incredibly accessible, affordable and omnipresent. But this so-called ‘image culture’ doesn’t just facilitate endless possibilities. It’s also created a necessity for tireless motivation, inventiveness and most of all, specialization: from us, the next generation of creative professionals. By combining personal fascinations with a specific and unique visual handwriting, we all aim to stand out from the crowd. We’ve all got something to say, but we are not expecting to be heard by everyone. We want to start a dialogue with you, to combine strengths, skills and interests, to create messages, campaigns, or stories that need to be shared. Let’s find similarities, discuss differences, and explore possible realities of these hopeful ideals. Our campaign ‘DEAR..’ represents our intentions: we believe in engagement and more specifically, in collaborations, however unlikely they may seem at first. Imagine a moving-company working with a documentary photographer to capture memories of their clients’ interiors, or a commercial photographer collaborating with the municipality to create togetherness in a problem area through the subject of fashion. We’re ready, convinced of the opportunities, and can’t wait to work with you to make it happen. So. Now that we’re not complete strangers anymore, can we count on your presence at the KABK, anywhere between the 4th and 9th of July? We promise we’ll be there. However, if you can not wait that long - like us! - we would love to see you at ‘Introducing ‘DEAR..’: The Print Factory’. At Melkweg Expo on 17/18/19th of April, visit our pop-up printsale for an exciting chance to see and buy our work for only 49,99 per print. To get in touch, or for more information: Graduation exhibition ‘DEAR..’, Photography department KABK: 4 -9 July 2015 Prinsessegracht 4 - Den Haag ‘Introducing ‘DEAR..’: The Print Factory’, pop-up printsale by KABK Photography graduate students: 17 -19 april 2015 Marnixstraat 409 - Amsterdam Graduation exhibition preview: 3rd of July Website launch: 17th of April (www.deargraduation.com) facebook.com/deargraduation2015 [email protected] Contact: Merel Verspuij, 06- 81418548 Roderik Rotting - Our club will never die Lynne Brouwer - Design for discomfort Amber Toorop - G'lijk weleer, mijn lieve schat Anouk van Kalmthout - Cult of Creators Sofie van der Sman - The plastic fantastic island Imke Ligthart - Dear future, gone fishing