Vincent van Gaalen
Lives and works in The Hague, Netherlands
About
With a degree in photography from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Dutch photographer Vincent van Gaalen travels to the darkest areas of Europe where the veil of nocturnal darkness has yet to be invaded by artificial light pollution. Through meticulously executed photography, van Gaalen studies the age-old friction between creating mankind and the autonomy of nature.
In his ongoing project ‘Absence’ started in 2020, Van Gaalen photographs our human absence amidst the darkness of the night surrounded only by his equipment, a tent, and some provisions. Leaves, stones, water and air catch the light of the moon and stars. The deepest blacks emerge, outlines are enhanced. In this world, as darkness takes control, reason makes way for imagination and vulnerability. Among the vast, muted landscapes is a shrouded ecosystem teeming with hidden life. The landscape remains barely visible - but tangible all the more.
These fragile moonlit landscapes enveloped in a barely-perceptible silver light invite viewers into a serene observation of nature untampered by the industrial human hand. Far from the fearful perception of darkness as a result of years of evolution, these landscapes offer a peaceful solace and respite from urban society.
Education
2011
Graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (Photography)
Exhibitions
2025
Art Karlsruhe, Art Fair, BBA Gallery, Messe Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
2024
Shades of the Night - Absence, Solo Show, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Unseen Photo Fair Amsterdam - Absence, Galerie Helder, Netherlands
Petit Format - Absence, Group Show, Bermel von Luxburg Gallery, Berlin, Germany
In Search of Lightness - Absence, Duo Show, Galerie Helder, The Hague, Netherlands
2023
Mise en Scène – Absence, Group Exhibition, Galerie Helder, The Hague, Netherlands
Noorderlicht Regenerate - Absence, Group Exhibition, Museum Belvedere, Heerenveen, Netherlands
Clouds of Progress, Solo Show, WestEnd, The Hague, Netherlands
Beyond the North -Absence, Group Exhibition, Museum Belvedere, Heerenveen, Netherlands
Art Market Budapest - Absence, BBA Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
ARTMUC -Absence, BBA Gallery, Munich, Germany
Unseen Photo Fair Amsterdam – Absence, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2022
Absence, Solo Exhibition, Atelier K84, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Absence, Solo Exhibition, WestEnd, The Hague, Netherlands
Klimaatexpo - Absence, Group Exhibition, Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, Netherlands
Climate City – Absence, Group Exhibition, Cityscapes Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
BBA Photography Prize – Absence, Group Exhibition, Kühlhaus, Berlin, Germany
Editions – Absence, Group Exhibition, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Publications
2022
NRC Cultural supplement/visual arts - review Toef Jaeger 'Zwart Landschap', 2022 April
Trouw Zeitgeist/seeing - 'Absence'- tip from the editor Nienke Schipper, 2022 May
KlimaatExpo [online publication] 'Absence'- Calien Oudes, 2022 May
De Lage Landen [online publication] 'Absence', Maya Toebat, 2022 May
Awards & Nominations
2022
1st prize, BBA Photography Prize, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Foundation Eye on Nature (€10,000), Scholarship Award
Makers The Hague grant scheme for 'Clouds of Progress' (€8,000), Scholarship Award, The Hague, Netherlands
Lives and works in The Hague, Netherlands
