Jeetje is an invitation to re-examine the work of Ans Westra (1936–2023), one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant documentary photographers. Jeetje [pronounced YAY-chuh] is a Dutch expression of surprise — and, in this case, delight. It sets the tone for this selection drawn from Westra’s vast archive of funny, tender, and poignant photographs spanning the 1960s to the 1980s. From poetry readings in graveyards to spirited street protests, from competitive dog shows to karate kids on skates, these are scenes that feel as though they could have been captured yesterday.
The Dowse Art Museum shared a longstanding relationship with Westra, from staging her first retrospective in 1972 to hosting her as an artist in residence. Jeetje extends this relationship, revealing a side of Westra’s practice seldom seen by the public. Thanks to {Suite} Tirohanga and the Westra Estate.
