This series is a poignant tribute to Trapenberg’s ongoing journey of self-discovery and creative growth. It unfolds as a narrative woven with profound symbolism and introspection, each piece telling a story of transformation and adaptation. In this series, the artist invites viewers to join him; to glimpse through his lens and experience the artist’s own oscillating gaze, shaped by the influences of different places and the powerful currents of identity.

As we move deeper into Currents, Trapenberg shifts his storytelling to address the everyday intricacies of life and society in Curaçao. He casts a reflective gaze on the island’s collective yearning for a utopian paradise—a desire juxtaposed sharply against post-colonial experiences and the increasing commercialization of the Caribbean region.

His works challenge the viewer, asking them to see beyond the stereotypical images and symbols of the Antilles that so often dominate the social media feeds and perceptions of Western society.

In his New Suns series, which he started in 2020, Trapenberg uses the Caribbean sun as a symbol of exoticism and examines how this stereotype establishes the notion of a Caribbean paradise on Earth. He questions whether the residents of Curaçao share this same idea. Through New Suns, Trapenberg visualizes his ongoing quest to capture the perfect image of the Caribbean sun.

Trapenberg’s creative process for New Suns began almost by chance. He initially started researching the colors and tones associated with Caribbean image culture, and this research became an integral part of the project. Instead of intentionally photographing suns, he would point his camera at the sun when finishing a roll of medium-format film, curious about the results. This spontaneous approach is typical of his work as an image maker and is influenced by the physical and psychological distance he feels from his home island, Curaçao.

The romanticism in his gaze towards the Caribbean and the idealized image of the Caribbean sun come from this sense of distance. The suns he photographs are documented during his visits to Curaçao, and the creative process involves digital manipulation to adjust colors and hues in the negatives.