ENTRY DESCRIPTION
This portrait is a part of the ongoing project ‘Living History’ that shows how different groups of Americans, each armed with their own version of the past, deal with the history of the American Civil War and the legacy of slavery through re-enactment.

The most recognised historical figure in the United states, Abraham Lincoln, lives on after more than 150 years since his assasination. His legacy is largely defined by keeping the nation together through the Civil War, and abolishing slavery in the process. But how and why he did these and many other things have been contested ever since.

Lincoln's eloquent prose has rendered him one of the most frequently quoted figures in the United States. In times of political turmoil, his words become a reliable touchstone. Regardless of how contentious the issue at hand, all sides employ Lincoln's quotes to fortify their arguments. Even Honest Abe is not immune to the deepening divide in the current political climate in the US.

This portrait of Larry Elliott was captured during the Association for Lincoln Presenters' annual convention in Kansas, where numerous Lincolns convene, exchange knowledge, and educate others about the historical figure they embody.

This image was created using the digital format, and later transferred using a period-correct chemical process to create unique tintypes. This combination of modern and archaic processes echoes the complex intertwined identities of the contemporary impersonators and their historic performances.

AUTHOR
Ruben Hamelink (1992) is a self-taught photographer and filmmaker from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. His main theme lies in the field of tension between historic narratives and contemporary identity.

In 2014 Ruben published the photobook; 'Vietnamese Veterans', about the men and women who defended Vietnam in four different wars. In 2017 Ruben won the Celeste ‘In Conflict’ Prize for 'The Free Runners of Gaza'. Ruben is currently working on 'Living History', a photography and film project that explores the role of collective national history in shaping contemporary American society and the identities of its citizens, and vice versa. The first part of this project has won the Zilveren Camera International Documentary prize.

As Cameraman / Director of Photography Ruben has worked on several documentary films including 'Stateless Democracy' (2017, New World Summit and Jonas Staal) about the radical democratic movement in Rojava, West Kurdistan, and 'Monumental Crossroads' (2018, Tim vd Hoff) about the removal of the Confederate Monuments in New Orleans and the resulting discussion around heritage.

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