Hans Aarsman Theory of the street Paulien Oltheten Photography

The street is the workplace of the artist Paulien Oltheten (b. Nijmegen, 1982). Seemingly in passing, she seeks out precisely those moments when there is contact between people, things and the public space with her still and moving viewfinders. She also has a remarkable eye for the small and the subtle: her photos are often profoundly touching.

Street Theory brings together about a hundred photos, video stills and drawings by Oltheten, each of which testifies to how we use, move through, sit, lounge and behave in the public domain, and above all how we relate to other people and objects. Oltheten often annotates these striking images and intriguing situations with handwritten notes that become an integral part of the whole, adding a new, narrative layer of meaning.

Paulien Oltheten's observational acuity and her fascination with human behaviour and photography display a close affinity with the interests of the photographer Hans Aarsman and the behavioural biologist Tijs Goldschmidt, both of whom contribute to this book. In his introduction, Aarsman describes her exceptional way of working. In his essay, Tijs Goldschmidt explores the differences and similarities between his own work and that of Paulien Oltheten.

There are always intriguing things lying around and happening on the street, and there is not a single instant that is structured or preordained, but you have to actually notice it, and that is what Paulien Oltheten so uniquely succeeds in doing.

Review ...

Hans Aarsman Theory of the street Paulien Oltheten Photography

The street is the workplace of the artist Paulien Oltheten (b. Nijmegen, 1982). Seemingly in passing, she seeks out precisely those moments when there is contact between people, things and the public space with her still and moving viewfinders. She also has a remarkable eye for the small and the subtle: her photos are often profoundly touching.

Street Theory brings together about a hundred photos, video stills and drawings by Oltheten, each of which testifies to how we use, move through, sit, lounge and behave in the public domain, and above all how we relate to other people and objects. Oltheten often annotates these striking images and intriguing situations with handwritten notes that become an integral part of the whole, adding a new, narrative layer of meaning.

Paulien Oltheten's observational acuity and her fascination with human behaviour and photography display a close affinity with the interests of the photographer Hans Aarsman and the behavioural biologist Tijs Goldschmidt, both of whom contribute to this book. In his introduction, Aarsman describes her exceptional way of working. In his essay, Tijs Goldschmidt explores the differences and similarities between his own work and that of Paulien Oltheten.

There are always intriguing things lying around and happening on the street, and there is not a single instant that is structured or preordained, but you have to actually notice it, and that is what Paulien Oltheten so uniquely succeeds in doing.

Review ...

Hamburg, Dubai, New York, Singapore, New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur Lost in Transition Peter Bialobrzeski Photography

In Heimat, his previous collection of photographs published by Hatje Cantz, German photographer Peter Bialobrzeski, born in 1961, gave us pictures of his homeland that showed it as it had never been seen before. Photo International deemed it "one of the most beautiful and significant photography books this year." Even before that, Bialobrzeski's critically acclaimed exploration of the Asian mega-city phenomenon, Neon Tigers, had made him a common topic of debate on the international photography scene. Bialobrzeski's gift is for the portrayal of epic sweep in urban vistas, and of the energies that inhabit and galvanize them. In Lost in Transition the photographer applies his grand vision to the transformation of wasteland areas, many of which are located on the peripheries of cities. The photographs were taken in more than 28 cities (including Hamburg, Dubai, New York, Singapore, New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur) and 14 countries, and trace the transition from old to new, from the familiar to the abstract, from the dilapidated to the renewed. These images are as seductive and sublime as nineteenth-century Romantic paintings, but their apparent beauty is deceptive. As in his earlier works, Bialobrzeski always tests and pushes at the limitations of the documentary image itself.

About the AuthorPeter Bialobrzeski was born in Wolfsburg, Germany, in 1961. He was awarded first prize in the Art category at the prestigious World Press Photo Awards in 2003. His previous books are XXX Holy: Journeys into the Spiritual Heart of India and Neon Tigers.

Lost in Transition, Photographs by Peter Bialobrzeski, Essays by Michael Glasmeier, Reviewed by Ruchi Shukla.

Rapid advances in globalization, urbanization and industrialization have led to a wave of construction projects around the world. In developing economies, land has become the most important asset for the purposes of growth.

The large-scale construction projects being undertaken in major cities around the world transform wastelands into giant factories or residential complexes or restaurants. Instead of being silent spaces, they are being transformed into spaces with noise, light and people.

Across the globe

This same storyline seems to be repeating itself around the world. In his book Lost in Transition, photographer Peter Bialobrzeski i has captured some of these sites from around the world. From Dubai to Germany and from the United States to India, there is a chain of sorts of these massive construction sites.

The photographs have been taken in 28 cities across 14 countries — and it is amazing to see how a similar transformation is happening around the world. We seem to be leaving the comfort of the known and moving towards the unknown — as represented by the empty landscapes around the new buildings.

The art of building has also seemed to change. Shiny steel and glass have taken the place of concrete and plaster. The powerful lights around the buildings seem to be placed as if for a Broadway show, with the building as the highlight of the program. It is almost as if these spaces in transition are works of art in themselves.

A world in transition

Overall, the photography tells the story of a transitioning world economy and, in turn, a transitioning way of life. A brightly lit mall stands right next to the huts of the workers building a place where they might not be able to afford a single item.

Factories spring up in the middle of snow-capped peaks. Futuristic buildings stand among empty landscapes, making them more imposing than their real size would warrant.

Two worlds

Another interesting juxtaposition is that of the new world and the old — or the rich and the poor. In Kuala Lumpur, Peter Bialobrzeski captures a shack with the world-famous Petronas Towers in the background. It is like looking at the two sides of a coin — great development and then the people who have been left behind in the race.

Bialobrzeski’s images tell the story about a time to come. They capture the hope for a brighter future, literally. And like great works of art, they arouse wonder and awe.

About Peter Bialobrzeski

Peter Bialobrzeski is a professor at the Hochschule für Künste, Bremen. He sparked a great deal of interest on the photography scene with his previous books Neon Tigers and Heimat. Neon Tigers was an explorations of Asian mega-cities and won the German Photobook Prize and the Most Beautiful German Book Award.

About Michael Glasmeier

Michael Glasmeier is an essayist, journalist, exhibition curator and professor of art history at the Hochschule für Künste, Bremen. His work deals with the relation of visual art to music, language, film, photography, theater or comedy.

the Best Looking Designed Photobooks 2007 Photography Graphic Design

Schapen tellen Hans van der Meer (design: Steef Liefting)
Lees meer ...



Eva Besnyö (design: Barends & Pijnappel)

"Gripped by the 'New Photography', Eva Besnyö(1910-2003) became the reporter of life on the streets: she photographed coalers, dustmen, artists and children not from the waist height, where her 6x6 Rolleiflex hung, but generally from a low camera angle. At other moments she looked down on the shadows on cobbles or dirt tracks from a bird's-eye perspective. Her fascinating images reveal her exceptional eye for detail and design. In the autumn of 1932 the Budapest-born photographer left Berlin for the Netherlands, where she would live for the rest of her life. Through her mother-in-law Charley Toorop she fell in with a circle of avant-garde artists, painters, architects and cinematographers. Eva found her niche among them, primarily through her photographic style, the New Realism which she had mastered in Berlin. Architectural photography and portraits were an important source of income for her. In addition to 'highlights' from her oeuvre that Besnyö herself selected for what she called her 'Choice Collection', this book includes a large number of magnificent, unknown, never before published or exhibited works." (Publishers text)

Familytree Ringel Goslinga (design: Johan Thermaenius en Roger Willems)

Family Tree is a project that I started in the autumn of 2003. The last additions for this book were made in the spring of 2007. This is not a book that shows a traditional family tree. It’s a collection of 108 pictures of persons who were important for me during my life. Those persons are part of the way I walked through life. Some of them were part of significant periods of my life others were more or less important for whom I am today. Relevant people who have died before I started this series are not part of the project. People who were valuable during my life but have a reason not to participate to this project are made (in-) visible by a black frame. The Map to My Surroundings is placed on an imaginary time line. By this you can take a look over my shoulder and meet the people belonging to different periods of my life. Those people are the participants of my own social surroundings excluding my family. The Maps to My Father’s- and My Mother’s Surroundings are built up around my parents. The reason to separate them is because they divorced when I was three years old. Hereafter they gave a new direction to their lives that resulted in two different social surroundings. Important for the understanding of The Map to My Father’s Surroundings are his relationships after his marriage with my mother and the social structures around my half-sister. This series ends with his four brothers and four sisters and most important people around them. The Map to My Mother’s Surroundings starts with her farmer ancestors to show our family background that my mother often told me about. Next to that is a construction of related people around her husband, her friends, and her family. The last map has been composed around my own relationship. The people belonging to this series are connected to my girlfriend and me. This map contains a new social structure and shall expand. Finally I can conclude that Family Tree is a self-investigation. The way to connect people by photographs was an understandable manner to get a clear vision of my roots. The overall picture of this project is my autobiographic picture. — Ringel Goslinga

Mist Niels Stomps (design: SYB)

Since 1993 the Chinese government has been working on the Three Gorges Dam in the middle of China. The storage reservoir has forced the evacuation of villages, monuments and whole cities, , forcing up to 1.3 million people to move to cities higher up on the mountainsides, constructed in great haste, shrouded in the resevoir’s near-permanent fog. Niels Stomps’ series of pictures shows life in these new cities. In spite of the hectic way of life in a Chinese city these are stilled images; Stomps has a highly personal capacity for observation. Take note of the astonishing effect of a series of still lives of windows photographed from the inside. See for a Review by 5B4 ...

High Resolution Johannes Schwartz (design: Experimental Jetset)











Ofoffjoff JOFF & Julia Bom Anuschka Blommers & Niels Schumm (design : Julia Bom)




Lees meer ... by PhotoQ &

D E B E S T V E R Z O R G D E B O E K E N 2 0 0 7

the Best Looking Designed Photobooks 2007 Photography Graphic Design

Schapen tellen Hans van der Meer (design: Steef Liefting)
Lees meer ...



Eva Besnyö (design: Barends & Pijnappel)

"Gripped by the 'New Photography', Eva Besnyö(1910-2003) became the reporter of life on the streets: she photographed coalers, dustmen, artists and children not from the waist height, where her 6x6 Rolleiflex hung, but generally from a low camera angle. At other moments she looked down on the shadows on cobbles or dirt tracks from a bird's-eye perspective. Her fascinating images reveal her exceptional eye for detail and design. In the autumn of 1932 the Budapest-born photographer left Berlin for the Netherlands, where she would live for the rest of her life. Through her mother-in-law Charley Toorop she fell in with a circle of avant-garde artists, painters, architects and cinematographers. Eva found her niche among them, primarily through her photographic style, the New Realism which she had mastered in Berlin. Architectural photography and portraits were an important source of income for her. In addition to 'highlights' from her oeuvre that Besnyö herself selected for what she called her 'Choice Collection', this book includes a large number of magnificent, unknown, never before published or exhibited works." (Publishers text)

Familytree Ringel Goslinga (design: Johan Thermaenius en Roger Willems)

Family Tree is a project that I started in the autumn of 2003. The last additions for this book were made in the spring of 2007. This is not a book that shows a traditional family tree. It’s a collection of 108 pictures of persons who were important for me during my life. Those persons are part of the way I walked through life. Some of them were part of significant periods of my life others were more or less important for whom I am today. Relevant people who have died before I started this series are not part of the project. People who were valuable during my life but have a reason not to participate to this project are made (in-) visible by a black frame. The Map to My Surroundings is placed on an imaginary time line. By this you can take a look over my shoulder and meet the people belonging to different periods of my life. Those people are the participants of my own social surroundings excluding my family. The Maps to My Father’s- and My Mother’s Surroundings are built up around my parents. The reason to separate them is because they divorced when I was three years old. Hereafter they gave a new direction to their lives that resulted in two different social surroundings. Important for the understanding of The Map to My Father’s Surroundings are his relationships after his marriage with my mother and the social structures around my half-sister. This series ends with his four brothers and four sisters and most important people around them. The Map to My Mother’s Surroundings starts with her farmer ancestors to show our family background that my mother often told me about. Next to that is a construction of related people around her husband, her friends, and her family. The last map has been composed around my own relationship. The people belonging to this series are connected to my girlfriend and me. This map contains a new social structure and shall expand. Finally I can conclude that Family Tree is a self-investigation. The way to connect people by photographs was an understandable manner to get a clear vision of my roots. The overall picture of this project is my autobiographic picture. — Ringel Goslinga

Mist Niels Stomps (design: SYB)

Since 1993 the Chinese government has been working on the Three Gorges Dam in the middle of China. The storage reservoir has forced the evacuation of villages, monuments and whole cities, , forcing up to 1.3 million people to move to cities higher up on the mountainsides, constructed in great haste, shrouded in the resevoir’s near-permanent fog. Niels Stomps’ series of pictures shows life in these new cities. In spite of the hectic way of life in a Chinese city these are stilled images; Stomps has a highly personal capacity for observation. Take note of the astonishing effect of a series of still lives of windows photographed from the inside. See for a Review by 5B4 ...

High Resolution Johannes Schwartz (design: Experimental Jetset)











Ofoffjoff JOFF & Julia Bom Anuschka Blommers & Niels Schumm (design : Julia Bom)




Lees meer ... by PhotoQ &

D E B E S T V E R Z O R G D E B O E K E N 2 0 0 7

The Dutch East Indies in photographs 1860-1940 collection KITLV Photography

The Dutch East Indies in photographs, 1860-1940 ...

Aanstoots, J. ARW, Charls & Co. / Bandoeng, Charls & Co. / Semarang, Charls & van Es & Co. / Batavia, Chen, Céphas, K. Céphas, K. of S. Demmeni, Jean Dinter, J.M.P. van / Batavia Feilberg, K. Felde, F. van (von) / Weltevreden Felde, van / Weltevreden, Java, Foto Lux / Garoet, Gleysteen, H. / Soerabaja Herrmann & Co. / Batavia, Hisgen & Co., O. / Semarang Ismail, R. Jong Lin & Co. / Tegal, Jongejans, J. Keng Seng / Semarang, King Ming, L. / Soerakarta, Kleingrothe, C.J. / Medan Krause, Gregor Kreuger & Austermühle / Bandoeng, Krüger, C. / Batavia Kurkdjian / Soerabaja, Kurkdjian, N.V. Photografisch Atelier / Soerabaja Lambert & Co., G.R. / Singapore Leur, J. de Marine Voorlichtingsdienst / Batavia, Najoan, P. / Amboina Neeb, C.J. Nieuwenhuis, C. / Padang Nieuwenhuis, C.B. / Koetaradja Nishi, K. / Loeboekpakam Ong Lian Khaij / Pekalongan, Page, J. / Java Pandji, R. Promemoria / Bondowoso, Rimestad, H.G. / Soerabaja Saito, S. / Semarang Schäfer-Jashinoto, Soublette et Fils / Willemstad, Curaçao, Stafhell & Kleingrothe / Medan, Tan Tjie Lan / Batavia, Wah Seng, J. / Makassar Weide, van der, Witkamp, H. Woodbury & Co., H.J. / Java Woodbury & Page / Batavia, Woodbury & Page / Java, Woodbury / Java, Woodbury, A. / Java Yong Chong / Singapore,
Zangaki See also Pioniersfotografie uit Nederlands-Indië ...

See also the Photobooks of the Dutch East Indies ...

Jean Demmeni Trough the eyes of the Past Dutch East Indies Photography

Through the eyes of the Past

Opening exhibition by Mr. Goenawan Mohamad, senior journalist

Erasmus Huis
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. S - 3
Kuningan, Jakarta 12950
T 524-1069

Re-examining documentary photographs

The exhibition is all about documentary photos from the past, photos from the time of the Dutch East Indies. These photos were made around 1913 as information material for Dutch class rooms about far away Indonesian archipelago. They cover religion, the populatio n, housing, land, cattle, fishery, hunting, trade (industry), handicrafts and culture.

The photos are ascribed to Jean Demmeni (1866-1939) . They not only serve as interesting data. The photos are special because of the perceptiveness and diligence of the photographer. When seeing them people often wonder what happened afterwards to the place or object that was once captured.

The usefulness of old documentary photos is beyond question. Photos that were made during colonial and post colonial times, like many other things, are very useful for future purposes.

When seeing the photos now, however, we have to realize that the images and messages were made by and for a system that is quite different from nowadays. How should we see these pictures that were made for purposes that are no longer relevant? What role can these old pictures play in a new context?Should these photos only be seen as artifacts or just data?

Everyone is invited to see this important and interesting exhibition to learn more about Indonesia in the past.

See also Kleynenberg Schoolplaten photography of the Dutch East & West Indies :

Thousands of pupils in Dutch secondary schools have seen educational prints from the series Platen van Nederlandsch Oost- en West Indië, published by Kleynenberg & Co. in Haarlem between 1911 and 1913. The series consists of 171 large wall hung pictures, beautifully printed from black and white photographs. They hung in classrooms until the 1940s. A number of the photographs were made by photographer Jean Demmeni.Jean Demmeni was born at Padang-Panjang in West Sumatra, son of a French father and Indo-European mother. His father served in the Dutch East Indian army. He fought in the 18705 in Aceh, rising to the rank of Major-General. Following his father's footsteps, Jean Demmeni also entered the army in the East Indies. He was assigned to the Topographic Service in Bandung. In addition to his talents as a marksman and a surveyor, he was also a photographer.

Indonesia: Images from the past.
DEMMENI, JEAN (photogr.), HAKS, LEO & ZACH, PAUL (text),
Published by Singapore, Times Editions, 1987., 1987
Oblong 4to. 120 pp. With b/w photogr. plates throughout. Index. Hardcover. Or.boards/dustj.

Méditerranée Photographies de Henriette Grindat Photography

The Lausanne photographer Henriette Grindat (1923-1986) had a special affinity with the Mediterranean. She repeatedly travelled to the country and cities situated around the sea that connects people from various cultures and parts of the world and has influenced their history for thousands of years. But Grindat was not primarily interested in journalistic reportages and portraits of countries. Spain or Egypt, Italy or Algeria: she was less concerned with contemporary history than with the secrets of matter and light – and most particularly of water in all its sensuous and metaphorical aspects. Her bewitching photographic lyricism also emerges as an existential search for meaning. "Méditerranées" is dedicated to a central aspect of Grindat's work, which was also published in several books in the Lausanne series "Guilde du livre" in the 1950s and 60s. In the exhibition special attention is paid to this large-format pubishing project, which provided an important platform for many post-war photographers.

Reviews Photography Exhibitions Cuny Janssen Dorothée Meyer Magnum 60 years

White Thorns & Tomorrow Leaf Cuny Janssen

Een verre van Nederlands landschap Dorothée Meyer &
Fotos Meyer relativeren de heroïek van nieuwe land door Tracy Metz ...

Wandeling tussen geweldige foto's & Magnum 60 Years

Reviews Photography Exhibitions Cuny Janssen Dorothée Meyer Magnum 60 years

White Thorns & Tomorrow Leaf Cuny Janssen

Een verre van Nederlands landschap Dorothée Meyer &
Fotos Meyer relativeren de heroïek van nieuwe land door Tracy Metz ...

Wandeling tussen geweldige foto's & Magnum 60 Years

Gotthard Schuh Java Sumatra Bali Dutch East Indies Photography

See also : the photobooks of th Dutch East Indies ...

See also : Gotthard Schuh Instants voles Instants Donnes