Sidelines

The work of the Eugene Smith Prize award winner whose photographs taken over decades and around the globe reflect the themes of identity, survival, and resilience of marginalized and remote communities. This book chronicles the career of Belgian photographer John Vink, who began contributing to Libe ration in 1985. His personal project Water in the Sahel won the Eugene Smith Prize in 1986, showcasing his commitment to capturing the human experience in difficult environments.

As a founding member of Agence VU, Vink documented refugee camps globally. It allowed him to become a full member at Magnum Photos in 1997, which he would remain until 2017. His Peuples d'En Haut series highlights the resilience and cultural identity of mountain communities, such as the Mam in Guatemala and the Hmong in Laos. After years of travel, Vink settled in Cambodia in 2000, allowing him to engage more deeply with a single culture. Now based in Brussels, he continues to inspire through his powerful visual storytelling that explores themes of identity and humanity. With a text contribution by Rik Van Puymbroeck.