Luc Haenen - #WHATPATIENTSREADAFTERHEARTSURGERY

#WHATPATIENTSREADAFTERHEARTSURGERY by Luc Haenen is a compelling photographic study of the post-operative experience of heart surgery patients. Through a combination of documentary imagery and conceptual observation, Haenen captures the private and often overlooked moments of recovery, exploring how patients navigate time, solitude, and reflection in hospital and home settings. Central to the work is the exploration of what patients read during convalescence — books, magazines, digital content — revealing insights into their mental and emotional landscapes as they heal. The project balances intimacy with conceptual rigor, highlighting the intersection between medical environments and personal agency. Richly sequenced and illustrated, the book emphasizes both the universality and individuality of recovery, offering viewers a nuanced understanding of human resilience. #WHATPATIENTSREADAFTERHEARTSURGERY is an essential contribution to empathetic storytelling, and will resonate with audiences interested in health, human experience, and visual culture.

Luc Haenen is a Belgian retired heart surgeon whose work explores human experience through documentary and conceptual lenses. His practice emphasizes observation, narrative sequencing, and intimate storytelling, often focusing on overlooked aspects of daily life. With projects such as #WHATPATIENTSREADAFTERHEARTSURGERY, he investigates the intersections of health, personal experience as a retired heart surgeon, and visual culture, creating work that is both empathetic and conceptually rigorous.

448 pages
17 x 24 cm
English, Dutch
Publication: October 2025
ISBN: 9789464002720