Hendrik kerstens art biography template
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"What started as a father's series of portraits of his daughter, and then became a play on early Netherlandish portrait painting has gradually moved into a new phase. The daughter and model, Paula, since grown up, became more involved in the way she was portrayed. Paula has increasingly become the co-director of her self-image. The Paula series has therefore slowly changed over time into a series of self-portraits. With the photo studio as Denkraum and historical portrait painting as its frame of reference, it is a photographic exploration of female identity in the Low Countries."
Maartje van den Heuvel
The photos that Hendrik Kerstens takes of his daughter Paula Kerstens have become iconic, world-famous works of art. What once started as a form of family photography, and then became a dialogue with the historical portraiture of the Low Countries, is now entering a new phase. Paula, now an adult, is gradually taking more control of her self-image.
Paula has slowly become a series of self-portraits, one that celebrates the age-old game in front of the mirror, as new looks, styles and roles are constantly explored. Now a family business, the Kerstens continue to develop their work every day.
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Portrait of a Lady
INTERVIEW Own HENDRIK KERSTENS
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»I call the Old Masters ‘silent teachers’.«
Photographer Hendrik Kerstens has taken pictures of his daughter, Paula, since , when he left his career in business to enable his wife to return to full time work. Starting off as documentary shots, over time his portraits have become more playful and artistic: many reference works by the Dutch Old Masters, creating a dialogue between photography and painting, past and present in the process.
Hendrik, how did you first become interested in art and photography?
I wasn’t educated as an artist in a traditional sense. I never studied art or photography at a school or academy. I thought, that if you want to learn something you have to read lots of books and practice your craft. That’s what I did, and now I’m here. I always liked being busy with my hands. When I was younger, I had a friend who did beautiful ink drawings that I tried to copy, but I wasn’t very good. Instead, I became interested in cooking, which is of course very creative. I only started experimenting with visual art when I was around forty-years-old. My wife Anna and I changed roles: I quit my job in business, stayed at home, did the housekeeping, looked after our young daughter Paula, and started exploring my creative passions while my wife went to work full time