“Apparently Dead” and “Flying Lessons” are two themes in the solo exhibition of Dutch Photographer Vincent Rijs in which stuffed animals figure and play an extremely lively role. A third series of photographs refers to transformation and in two images the archetypal woman role from the male point of view. There are also a number of portraits in which the woman is portrayed powerful or tender and vulnerable.

 

Characteristic is a strong reference to the Dutch Golden Age of painting: Both in topic as in light. In addition, there is always a balanced styling of models. Rijs is full of humor and some self-mockery. He calls his style magical realistic with a touch of surrealism, mixed with a small dosage vintage and nostalgia.

 

About Vincent Rijs: In 2009 he ended his work at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and began his training at the Image Masters Photography Lab, Amsterdam, where he graduated in 2012. In 2010 he settled as an autonomous photographer. His portfolio includes work for Vogue Italy.

 

Rijs: “I shoot with my head, impressions eventually converted in an image. Still I experience that visualisation process with wonder, similar to the former analog printing process of the predigitale era. Pure Magic if the image appears in the coating”.