Photography: Lisa Lapierre’s Dour

French-born photographer Lisa Lapierre (24), living and working in Brussels, has been working on teenage behavior and relationships for several years now. “Being young is the most intense experience. With my photographs I try to explore the physical, social and emotional aspects of adolescence, as well as the formation of identity,“ she says about her fascination for documenting youth culture. What better place is there in Belgium to immortalize the uninhibited and authentic fleeting moments of youth as the legendary Dour festival, where Lisa’s lens seemingly goes unnoticed, capturing festivalgoers without judgment, a tender eye, and completely unstaged, dancing, sleeping, laughing, kissing. A soft and at the same time raw account of youth in Belgium today (and a See you there exclusive).

“It was my first time at Dour, as well as my first time at a festival as a photographer. I knew it was going to be awkward to walk around by myself with no drugs, no alcohol, no focus.”

“At first I felt quite lonely, but these feelings went away pretty fast as nobody was giving a fuck about me.”

“I consider myself a neutral viewer, and only a few where trying to catch my attention”

“I don’t ask for permission to shoot, because I don’t want them to stop what they are doing or feeling.”

“Honestly, I don’t think they noticed me very often.”

“In the end, I want to show a collective portrait of youth: its awkwardness, innocence, fury, sexuality, and beauty.”

“For now, I just don’t think I’m ready to shoot grown-ups – I don’t feel their pain, and don’t get most of their fear.”