UNSETTLED

UNSETTLED is a long term project on change and environment and addresses

a current topic with global relevance. The series investigates, over a period of more than ten years, the evolution of the Belgian Village “Doel”. The area is under pressure by vast harbor expansions and related nature compensation plans imposed by the European Union. Large zones of former living and agricultural land are being transformed into industrial areas on one hand and “new nature” areas on the other hand to balance the expanding industrial zones and create through estuarine nature a safety buffer alongside the river Scheldt to cope with- and protect the land for rising sea levels.

The project refers to an international tendency of global environmental and economic shifts. It illustrates how people, their environment and surroundings as well as their social fabric are affected by these large alterations and are forced to adapt and in that way search for new beginnings because of these changes.

Unsettled was awarded, published and exhibited (inter)nationally sine 2008, received a project grant from the Dutch Anna Cornelis foundation and the Dutch embassy in London and Dublin.

https://isabellepateer.com/unsettled

© Isabelle Pateer - Temporary nature compensation area with in the back Deurganckdok area.
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Temporary nature compensation area with in the back Deurganckdok area.

© Isabelle Pateer - Image from the UNSETTLED photography project
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View on the former village center of 'Wilmarsdonk'. The tower of the church is the only spot remaining from the village which was turned into harbour area in the late '60.

© Isabelle Pateer - Kristof, portrayed in the former cafe 'Saxonia' in the village of Doel
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Kristof, portrayed in the former cafe 'Saxonia' in the village of Doel

© Isabelle Pateer - Temporary nature reserve area.
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Temporary nature reserve area.

© Isabelle Pateer - Image from the UNSETTLED photography project
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Kirsten, Prosperpolder. This former polder is being turned into a nature compensation area to compensate the expanding industry in the area.

© Isabelle Pateer - Landscape under construction, Deurganckdok.
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Landscape under construction, Deurganckdok.

© Isabelle Pateer - Shirley, abandoned house in the village of Doel
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Shirley, abandoned house in the village of Doel

© Isabelle Pateer - Nature area in front, opposing the expanding harbour area in the back
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Nature area in front, opposing the expanding harbour area in the back

© Isabelle Pateer - Abandoned villa in the village of Doel
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Abandoned villa in the village of Doel

© Isabelle Pateer - Image from the UNSETTLED photography project
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Lindsay, wondering in one of the abandoned houses in her village, where she was born, now endangered because of the harbour expansions.

© Isabelle Pateer - Abandoned interior of a house in the village of Doel
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Abandoned interior of a house in the village of Doel

© Isabelle Pateer - Street scene after demolishment of a house in the center of the village of Doel
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Street scene after demolishment of a house in the center of the village of Doel

© Isabelle Pateer - Image from the UNSETTLED photography project
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One of the teenagers living in the center of Doel, wandering in one of the houses of her former friends who already left the place for the expanding harbour activities.

© Isabelle Pateer - 'camera obscura' in a bedroom of an abandoned house showing the shadows of the harbour cranes on the wall.
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'camera obscura' in a bedroom of an abandoned house showing the shadows of the harbour cranes on the wall.

© Isabelle Pateer - Nature compensation plans are being executed in the former Prosperpolder
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Nature compensation plans are being executed in the former Prosperpolder

© Isabelle Pateer - Nature compensation plans are being executed in the former Prosperpolder
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Nature compensation plans are being executed in the former Prosperpolder

© Isabelle Pateer - A new industrial zone will be constructed on this former agricultural spot
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A new industrial zone will be constructed on this former agricultural spot

© Isabelle Pateer - Yannick, rooftop view in the center of the endangered village of Doel
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Yannick, rooftop view in the center of the endangered village of Doel

© Isabelle Pateer - Cargo connections being expanded
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Cargo connections being expanded

© Isabelle Pateer - Building site, Deurganckdok area
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Building site, Deurganckdok area

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