Broer is an ongoing photo series, capturing the portraits of local men who have addressed Florian with ‘broer’ (brother). The project started in Delfshaven, where he lives, but has expanded to other neighbourhoods and cities. A casual and friendly term of affection, ‘brother’ evokes a brotherhood between strangers that transcends backgrounds and family ties. Like the rest of Delfshaven’s Finest, Florian’s ongoing research on the neighbourhood Delfshaven in Rotterdam, Broer resulted from encounters in shared and public spaces like the hairdresser, the market and local shops. If during Florian’s explorations of the area someone would call him ‘brother’, Florian asked to make a portrait.

The currently forty-two portrayed men look at their ‘brother’ behind the lens, and thereby at the spectator, with a warm and open gaze. With this softness the photos dispute both the restrictive ideals of tough masculinity, and the racialized stereotypes of men of colour that are enforced by the media. Creating encounters between subject and audiences regardless of gender, Broer shows the power of making contact, and reflects on the creation of community between strangers. We could all be each other’s brothers.

Broer has been shown in the following exhibitions:
Foam Talent at Foam, Amsterdam (NL), 2024
Generation at Jakarta International Photo Festival, Jakarta (ID), 2023
Jackets, Brothers, Tools & Others at Salón, Madrid (ES), 2022
Imagination at Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam, 2022
Verwantschap at Museum IJsselstein, 2022
Prospects & Concepts, Mondriaan Fund shows talent, Art Rotterdam, 2019
Family at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, 2018 - 2019.

Installation at the exhibition Foam Talent at Foam, Amsterdam (NL), 2024
Size: 23,3 x 35 cm (per photograph), printed on fine art paper and mounted on dibond, framed in white frames.

Installation at the exhibition Generation during JIPFEST, Jakarta (ID), 2023
Size: 23,3 x 35 cm (per photograph), printed on fine art paper and mounted on foam board.

Installation at the exhibition Imagination at the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
Size: 23,3 x 35 cm (per photograph), printed on fine art paper and mounted on dibond, framed in white frames.

Installation at the exhibition Jackets, Brothers, Tools & Others at Salón, Madrid (ES), 2022
Size: 13x18 cm (per photograph), glued to the wall.

Installation at the exhibition Family at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, 2018-2019
Size: various sizes (per photograph), printed on fine art paper and mounted dibond, framed in different frames.