Black Snow is a multimedia project about life in the shadow of the Tata Steel factory in IJmuiden, the Netherlands.

This coastal region is home to communities caught between economic dependence on the factory and growing concern about its environmental and health impacts.

Tata Steel is under intense public scrutiny. Pollution is a major issue, and in early February 2021, snow in parts of the area turned black — most likely due to coal dust and graphite emissions. This striking visual became a symbol of a deeper reality.

The title Black Snow refers not only to this literal phenomenon, but also to a figurative veil — a metaphorical embodiment of the factory’s far-reaching presence. More than just an industrial site, Tata Steel’s influence is deeply embedded in the IJmond region — touching on economic, social,  political and environmental aspects of life.

The project explores how this presence manifests in the everyday — as a quiet but enduring layer that is complex, contradictory, and difficult to ignore. Through photography, film, and interviews, Black Snow gives voice to residents, workers, and others who live in this layered reality.

The work was exhibited at Verwey Museum Haarlem from January -June 2026.