'De olifant die niet wist of hij verdwaald was'.

This is the first picture book by photographer Thomas Nondh Jansen. Adopted from Thailand as a child, he is now at an age where the big questions start popping up. He feels connected with the Netherlands, but also wonders where he comes from. One day he noticed a plastic elephant in a garden. Amazed and fascinated by the elephant, he wanted to take a picture with him. This was the beginning of a small plastic baby elephant’s journey through the Netherlands, through all the seasons, in search of its roots. The story was written by Bart Eysink Smeets and the design was done by Jelle Koper. Leopold published the picture book in the summer on 2016 (print run 2500 x).

‘The elephant who did not know if he was lost.’ was published in Dutch newspaper Volkskrant Magazine, AD and Eigen Huis & Interieur Magazine and was broadcasted on local television channel TV West. The book was included in the Photo Book Award exhibition during Les Rencontres de la Photographie Arles, France and was exhibited at Fotogalleri VasliSouza in Malmö, Sweden. 'Elephant' shines in an online photography workshop for children Thomas created for Kunstmuseum Den Haag and the educational program 'Stampen als een olifant.' can be booked via De Schrijverscentrale and het Nederlands Fotomuseum Rotterdam. The picture book is sold out but can be borrowed from the public library in every major city in The Netherlands.