About
Photographer Ari Versluis and profiler Ellie Uyttenbroek have worked together since October 1994. Inspired by a shared interest in the striking dress codes of various social groups, they have systematically documented numerous identities over the last 20 years. Rotterdam’s heterogeneous, multicultural street scene remains a major source of inspiration for Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek, although since 1998 they have also worked in many cities abroad.
They call their series Exactitudes: a contraction of exact and attitude. By registering their subjects in an identical framework, with similar poses and a strictly observed dress code, Versluis and Uyttenbroek provide an almost scientific, anthropological record of people’s attempts to distinguish themselves from others by assuming a group identity. The apparent contradiction between individuality and uniformity is, however, taken to such extremes in their arresting objective-looking photographic viewpoint and stylistic analysis that the artistic aspect clearly dominates the purely documentary element.
Wim van Sinderen, Senior Curator
What makes the collection?
They create ‘collections’ of people, based on their analyzes.
Personal reflection
Their website creates a clear overview of different types of people. It’s very funny to see that some people think they’re one of a kind, but actually nobody is and eventually everybody belongs to a group.
The website
Take a look!
Home
By Chiyen Lam & Charissa den Hollander

Gabberbitches – Rotterdam 1996

Veggies – Zürich 2012

Omen – Amsterdam 2014