Who
represents
America
?
About this project
“AMERICAN” is a collection of audio, film and photographic portraits by Dutch photographer and filmmaker Robin de Puy. The series was created in the US between 2022 and 2024. Her images invite us to look closer at and listen to the stories of a cross-section of people who make up one of the world’s most powerful, extreme and divisive countries, at a politically turbulent and poignant time. Beyond globally-renowned celebrities and politicians whose voices and opinions we are privy to, what are the thoughts, concerns and dreams of the largely unheard citizens of America?
"AMERICAN", a project envisioned by De Puy in collaboration with WePresent, the arts platform of WeTransfer, consists of 25 episodes in which we meet and hear the stories of an extraordinary collection of people. The last nine episodes were newly captured in the summer of 2024, in the lead-up to one of the most tense elections the country will experience. Through De Puy’s lens, Americans emerge not as stereotypes or abstractions, but as complex individuals with hopes, dreams, fears, and a remarkable capacity to endure and inspire.
The photographs, stories and testimonies that make up “AMERICAN” will be published in a photobook by Hannibal in December 2024 in Europe, and in early 2025 worldwide.
About Robin de Puy
Award-winning photographer Robin de Puy (b. 1986, the Netherlands) sees the camera as an aid to understand the deeply personal traits and histories of each of her subjects. Many of her encounters are fleeting; a heartfelt glance into the life of someone else before time resumes its frantic pace. De Puy sees the camera as an aid to understand the deeply personal traits and histories of each person, and how in turn they reveal something about herself.
De Puy studied at the Fotoacademie Rotterdam and has been exhibited internationally at a wide range of some of the world’s most highly regarded institutions and galleries. Among numerous other awards, De Puy was the winner of the National Portrait Prize in both 2013 and 2019. Her work is held and displayed in major public and private collections worldwide.
Maarten van Rossem - DoP Sam Verberne - Assistant Annelien van Wijnbergen - Editor Rob Prochnow - Editor Ralf Verbeek - Editor Pelle Asselbergs - Editor Tim Roza - Editor Melcher Meirmans - Sound Mix
About WePresent
WePresent is WeTransfer’s Academy Award-winning arts platform, acting as the company’s cultural torchbearer to a monthly audience of approximately three million in 190 countries. Collaborating with a wide range of creators—from emerging young talent to renowned artists, such as Marina Abramović, Riz Ahmed, FKA twigs or Solange Knowles—WePresent showcases the best in art, photography, film, music, literature and more, championing diversity in everything it does.
WePresent
Holly Fraser - Editor-in-Chief / VP of Content Danielle Boelling - Senior Managing Editor Liv Siddall - Senior Editor Alex Mattinson - Senior Creative Producer Esra Gürmen - Copy Editor
WeTransfer Studio
Robbie Kerr - Associate Creative Director Marc Vermeeren - Creative Director Marika Seo - Senior Designer Mikee Silva - Digital Designer Giulian Drimba - Senior Creative Developer Sofia Zymnis - Creative Developer Simon Riisnæs Dagfinrud - Senior Creative Developer Mathieu Artu - Senior Creative Developer Everton Guilherme - Senior Motion Designer Linsey Ruijter - Senior Project Manager Dotte Lucker - Junior Project Manager
Video credits
Episode 1
Pretty Close to a Million
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Rob Prochnow Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 2
Five Hundred Tire Shops
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Rob Prochnow Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 3
Spoiler Alert
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 4
Some Real Cowboys
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Rob Prochnow Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 5
Jacks of All Trades
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Rob Prochnow Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 6
Just a Big Family
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Rob Prochnow Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 7
Boys From Mena
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem
Episode 8
Beckham's Bookshop
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem
Episode 9
Run Like Hell
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Ralf Verbeek Sound Design: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 10
Any Kind of Disaster
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Tim Roza Sound Design: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 11
Leuxian with an X
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sound Design: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 12
Big Little Cowboy
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem
Episode 13
The Man on the Couch
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Ralf Verbeek Sound Design: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 15
Blushing Cheeks
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem
Episode 16
A Better Future
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sound Design: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 17
You Just Need to Find The Glitch
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Pelle Asselbergs Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 18
Venus in Chipotle
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 19
A Fun Little Toy
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 20
Keep Your Head On a Swivel
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 21
When You Run, You Don't Ever Look Back
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 22
From Son Up To Son Down
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 23
Desire for a Miracle
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 24
Killer Cats: The Sequel
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Annelien van Wijnbergen Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
Episode 25
Respect to Everyone
Directed by: Robin de Puy Camera: Maarten van Rossem Assistant: Sam Verberne Editor: Ralf Verbeek Sounddesign: Melcher Meirmans
