Benedicte Kurzen

Photographers Sanne De Wilde and Bénédicte Kurzen publish their book: Land of Ibeji

Sanne De Wilde and Bénédicte Kurzen / NOOR

Sanne De Wilde and Bénédicte Kurzen / NOOR

Discover all about the Land of Ibeji


Sanne De Wilde and Bénédicte Kurzen investigate the mythology of twins in Nigeria where the rate of natural twin births is higher than anywhere else in the world. As sacred beings, twins’ magical and spiritual powers are celebrated with mythical fervour, but also condemned as unnatural.It was a path he never would have taken, because he never could have imagined it. 

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‘Land of Ibeji’ is a collaborative photographic project about the mythology of twinhood in Nigeria“Ibeji” meaning 'double birth' and ‘the inseparable two’ in Yoruba stands for the ultimate harmony between two people. The centre of this twin zone is Igbo-Ora, a sleepy southwest town in Nigeria. Through a visual narrative and an aesthetic language that is meant to reflect and empower the Yoruba culture that celebrates twins, the two photographers extend their gaze beyond appearance - with symmetry and resemblance as tools- to open the eyes to the twin as a mythological figure and a powerful metaphor: for the duality within a human being and the duality we experience in the world that surrounds us.

They played with the concept of doubling to create an imaginative photographic story, using double exposures, mirror reflections and colour filters. Through these pictorial processes, the two artists produced inventive double portraits, while also working together as twin-like co-authors. Land of Ibeji is the magical, colourful result.

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About the book

Now for sale in the NOOR Shop!

Next to the regular signed book there is also a limited edition that includes a signed print. There are only 44 of them available!


Order now and receive your book in August 2021

Signed book for €59  excl. VAT and shipping costs

Signed book + signed Fine Art Baryta print (only 44 units available) for €248 excl. VAT and shipping costs

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Benedicte Kurzen exhibited at Museum Hundertwasser, Vienna.

Croyances, faire et défaire l'invisible - "Land of Ibeji"

Benedicte Kurzen and Sanne De Wilde's latest collaborative project Land of Ibeji will be exhibited in Paris as part of the group exhibition Croyances: faire et defaire l'invisible, curated by Jeanne Mercier.

Bénédicte Kurzen & Sanne De Wilde / NOOR

Bénédicte Kurzen & Sanne De Wilde / NOOR

Sanne De Wilde's and Bénédicte Kurzen's work exhibited at the Cultural Institute for Islam in Paris

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From march until december 2020 Sanne De Wilde's and Bénédicte Kurzen's work will be exhibited at the Cultural Institue for Islam in Paris. Their project 'Land of Ibeji' is part of the exhibition 'Beliefs: make and break the invisible'.

Chibok Schoolgirls by Bénédicte Kurzen & Nina Strochlic

Six years ago, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. Where are they now? The 'Chibok girls’ kidnapping sparked international outrage. More than a hundred are still missing. Today the survivors are trying to rebuild their lives. Bénédicte Kurzen was on assignment for National Geographic

Bénédicte Kurzen / NOOR

Bénédicte Kurzen / NOOR

Calabar Carnival festival by Bénédicte Kurzen and Sanne De Wilde

The Calabar Carnival festival starts every 1st of December and ends on the 31st of December in Nigeria and considered the cleanest, friendliest and best maintained state capital in the whole country. This year, NOOR photographers Benedicte Kurzen and Sanne De Wilde covered the event which had as a theme "Africanism".

Bénédicte Kurzen and Sanne De WIlde / NOOR

Bénédicte Kurzen and Sanne De WIlde / NOOR

Benedicte Kurzen & Sanne De Wilde | "Land of Ibeji" wins award at Lianzhou Foto

NOOR photographers and Nikon Ambassadors Benedicte Kurzen and Sanne De Wilde won the jury prize in China at Lianzhou Foto for their series "Land of Ibeji". They showcased their photos as part of the “A Chance for the Unpredictable” exhibition.

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Bénédicte Kurzen & Sanne De Wilde present "Land of Ibeji" in Vienna, Austria

Sanne De Wilde and Benedicte Kurzen talked about their project "Land of Ibeji" at WestLicht. Schauplatz für Fotografie on October 16, as part of the World Press Photo Exhibition worldwide.

© Rachele Moriggi / WestLicht

© Rachele Moriggi / WestLicht