Recognized for her meticulously arranged depictions of young girls on the cusp of womanhood, Dutch artist Hellen van Meene is heavily influenced by the psychological tension and ambiguity of this transitional phase. Her innovative use of composition and natural lighting draws inspiration from her Dutch predecessors, most notably Johannes Vermeer.
With a grounding in reality, van Meene’s portraits also possess a sense of detachment and ethereality. Her subjects often seem lost in contemplation, their gazes fixed on something out of frame or their eyes closed in introspection. Through her photography, the artist captures a fleeting moment between girlhood and womanhood, emphasizing the quick passage of time. This timeless quality extends to the images themselves, which are both contemporary and evoke a sense of a bygone era.
In her latest series, van Meene takes this idea of temporal and physical detachment to new heights by introducing elements of fantasy. Figures with obscured faces, cascading locks of hair concealing identity, and levitating girls challenge the viewer to decipher the meaning and intention behind each portrait. This ambiguity is a deliberate choice by the artist.
Born in 1972 in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, Hellen van Meene currently resides and creates in Heiloo, The Netherlands. She was the 2016 recipient of the Royal Photographic Society Honorary Fellowship, awarded to distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the art of photography or sciences related to it.
Van Meene’s work has been displayed in prestigious international exhibitions, including at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Folkwang Museum in Essen, Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, The Photographer’s Gallery in London, Whitechapel Gallery in London, Huis Marseille in Amsterdam, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Brooklyn Museum in New York, and The Art Institute of Chicago. Her photographs can also be found in the collections of major museums worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
www.ftn-books.com has several van Meen publications available.
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