Stienes Veldkamp
(b. Grou, 1965) lives in Groningen in the Netherlands

A play with reality…
My viewpoint is that there does not exist one, objectively determinable reality that can further be captured by means of a photograph. Photos create worlds of their own, they are frameworks in which forms and objects are ordered, relate to each other, and are placed in a new suggestive connection.

My recent work consists of color images of trees and water. In a strict sense there is no question of 'landscapes' since no total image or overview of an area is displayed.
Because the subject is photographed up close and full screen there is no reference to the surroundings, and the image becomes detached from its original context.

The images are more than just a photographic representation; they are unique and subjective interpretations.

Education
1990-1997 University of Groningen, Faculty of Arts, Art and Art Policy. I finished my studies with a paper called: 'Documentary Photography, Art Photography: about the meaning of photography'. An important finding is (in short): to give a photo meaning the link between the photo and reality is of great importance. Is there a direct link (the photo resembles reality) we call it documentary photography, if there is no direct link we call it art. In addition, the context in which the photograph appears is important (for example the newspaper on one side and the art museum on the other side).

1992-1997 USVA (Cultural Students Center) in Groningen, several Photography courses from.

1986-1990 Fotovakschool Apeldoorn (Professional Photographers Course).

Solo exhibitions
2005 Nature Museum Rotterdam: A Horse Is A Horse Of Course ; march 4 - april 17.

2003 UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen): A Horse Is A Horse Of Course; may 27- juli 21.

2000 Natuurmuseum Groningen: A Horse Is A Horse Of Course; november 25 2000 - april 16 2001. In cooperation with the Noorderlicht Foundation. Also published in a book and on a CD-ROM

Group exhibitions
2011 Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (Groningen): Meer (in)zicht; May 8 - September 4. The Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum in Groningen is showing a special art exhibition in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the sail and watersports association 'De Twee Provinciën', located at the borders of 'Het Paterswoldsemeer', a lake near Groningen.

Seven artists among which are painters, photographers and a ceramic artist give their view on the Paterswoldsemeer.

2008 Fotoschool Groningen: Animals in the Picture; May 30 - June 27.
The Fotoschool in Groningen presents work from three photographers. From my series Outlook 14 animal pictures will be shown.
The other two exhibiting photgraphers are:
Daniëlle van Ark with The Mounted Life and Peggy de Korver with My Baby’s.

2001 International Fototage Herten (Herten, Germany): A Horse Is A Horse Of Course; september 27 - october 21 2001. The exhibition was part of the Visions of Europe exhibition showing work of young European photographers.

1997 Poortershoes, Part of the platform circuit of the Noorderlicht Fotofestival 1997 (Groningen): Oosterpoort.

1997 USVA-Noorderlicht Fotogalerie (Groningen): The Cow And Other Animals; june - august.

1996 USVA-Noorderlicht Fotogalerie (Groningen): In Private ; june - august.

Features & Reviews
* ZOOM international photo magazine Stienes Veldkamp, Juli - August 2005.
UK 17 Dierenfoto's met 'wist-u-datjes', 11 januari 2001.

Nieuwsblad van het Noorden Fotoexpositie van dieren zaait verwarring , 27-11-2000.

* denotes a feature article

Publications
* 6. Internationale Fototage Herten Catalogue to the 6th International Fototage Herten (Germany), 2001 published by Das BildForum.

A Horse Is A Horse Of Course Aurora Borealis, Groningen, 2000. Monograph with 56 photo's and texts. Photographs by Stienes Veldkamp. Foreword by Eddie Marsman, motto of Gerrit Krol. Published: 2000. This book is also available in a Dutch edition, entitled Een waarheid als een koe and as a bilingual cd-rom.

* denotes a catalogue to an exhibition