144 pages Photographs by Bouwe Brouwer Text(s) by Blake Andrews, Robert M. Pirsig Designed by Roald de Jong 25 x 19.2 cm Language: English, Dutch Hardback Publisher: Chemistry Publishing First edition of 250 copies 2023
Blauwhuis is the debut photo book by Dutch street photographer Bouwe Brouwer, capturing the raw energy and rhythm of a race day in the Frisian village of Blauwhuis. Through 69 black-and-white photographs, Brouwer takes the viewer on an immersive journey: from the buzzing anticipation of the crowd, to the quiet moments of preparation in the pits, to the mud and motion of the final race itself.
The book itself is a carefully crafted object, hand-bound in the artist’s studio in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, with an open spine smeared with mud taken directly from the race track. The cover is digitally printed in black and white on 100g Colorplan “Harvest” paper, while the inner pages are printed on 120g EOS 2.0 paper, creating a balanced texture that mirrors the grit and delicacy of the images.
An accompanying text by Blake Andrews adds a contemplative counterpoint to Brouwer’s visual storytelling, situating his work within a broader reflection on observation, motion, and the beauty of ordinary life.
A graduate in fine arts and trained illustrator, Brouwer has built a multidisciplinary practice bridging writing, photography, and visual storytelling. A member of the International (street) photography collective UP, his work blends humor, empathy, and precision, offering a deeply human look at life’s spontaneous choreography.
