RAIL

Throughout the entire Belgian railway network, in all four seasons of the year, photographer Tom Verbruggen is convinced that he can capture the 'belgitude' with his narrative images. The railway system forms, even more than the network of highways, the nervous system of Belgium. Rail lines transport not only people but also influence their immediate surroundings. Vibrant neighborhoods arise around stations each time. A railway junction attracts people, unlike a highway interchange. The rail brings life to a city. Trains connect city centers. From the heart of one city, you can reach the center of another city without getting stuck in busy car traffic. As an avid train traveler, photographer Tom Verbruggen wants to show Belgium as seen from the train. He emphasizes the connection between the track and the surrounding land. Thanks to the reflection on the window, the interior of the train and the outside world come together in one image. The viewer is simultaneously in the train and looking at the landscape. On the one hand, Verbruggen wants to remain seated as a passenger. He views the scene through the eyes of a street photographer but leaves the legwork to the train itself. The concept of a 'station neighborhood' is, on the other hand, a useful addition to what Verbruggen wants to show from the train: the complexity of 'life in the train compartment' continues here. 'RAIL' resulted in a photo book of 100 photos, published by Tox Books in 2023.