Short biography
Puk is a female installation & visual artist, born in The Hague – the Netherlands (1972) and from an early age fascinated by photography and the dark room. During her childhood she moved almost every two years. She enjoyed the novelty of new surroundings and new people and thought it to be quite an adventure. This clearly formed her; being curious, always asking questions and embarking on journeys to find possible answers. During her early twenties she started to travel and live abroad for about ten years, working as an outdoor and scuba instructor. Being adventurous she pushed the boundaries during scuba diving, which ultimately let to a forced change of carrier. This journey let her back to an old love; photography.
Although Puk works with photographic processes, she is not a photographer in any traditional sense. Rather, she creates installations that are a result of her being curious and philosophical. If everything is relative, it should also be possible to apply it to photography when presenting the images. She is clearly influenced by physics, philosophy, cubism, conceptual- and experimental art.
The photographs undergo whatever Puk finds relevant to help emphasis the theme or subject. “For the last two years I’ve been struggling, almost fighting with my latest art-installation Off Course. At the moment I am testing glass and iron. These materials are communicating exactly my emotions and thoughts, concerning the concept of this project”
The philosophical and experimental approach keep challenging her to be daring and look at things differently.
Education
Fotovakschool, Amsterdam - Netherlands
Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp - Belgium
Cameras
Mostly I use analog cameras and instants: Rolleiflex (1949), Mamiya RB67 (‘70s), Polaroid macro 5 SLR, Polaroid 600 and SX-70, Polaroid Colorpack II and III (Land camera), Diana F+ and selfmade pinhole cameras (large old coffee and Coca-Cola cans).
Combined materials
I love experimenting and using different kinds of materials to emphasis the message I want to convey. Parachute fabric - ultra thin but strong, glass - both strong and fragile, iron and wood - both stubborn and strong.
Recent projects
2019 Invited by the undefined - low key photographs
2018 work in progress: Off Course to be finished in 2020 - art installation using polaroid, pinhole and old childhood photographs
2017 Me, myself & you - art installation using polaroid, pinhole and medium format photographs mixed with mirrors.
2016 Ice Prisoner (IJsgevangene) Art installation combining photography, sound design and text
Group exhibitions
2018 - Physiognomy – OnArt Gallery, Firenze, aka Florence (Italy)
2017 - Profile – Ma-Wah Gallery, London (UK)
2017 - Different Perspectives ‘17, Antwerp (Belgium)
exhibiting and taking part in organising DP17
2016 – Retour – Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp (Belgium)
2016 – Opening cultural year - the Ice Prisoner – theater ’t Kapelletje Rotterdam
2016 – Different Perspectives ’16 , Antwerpen
exhibiting and taking part in organising DP16
2015 – Concentrische Cirkels – Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp (Belgium)
2015 – Different Perspectives ’15 , Antwerpen
exhibiting and taking part in organising DP15
2014 – Kunst van het delen – Kunstuitleen Alkmaar
2013 – 2014 – Nacht van de architectuur
2012 – Limburgs Museum – Jong 2012 Venlo, the Netherlands
Publications
2017 - Social Art Award Book, published by the Institute for Art and Innovation Berlin (Germany). Publicised
The Ice Prisoner
