Vincent van Gaalen

Works by Vincent van Gaalen

Absence – Hohe Tauern (1) – Austria, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence – Hohe Tauern (1) – Austria, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence – Hohe Tauern (2) – Austria, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence – Hohe Tauern (2) – Austria, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence - Serrania de Cuenca – Spain, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence - Serrania de Cuenca – Spain, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence – Picos de Europa – Spain, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence – Picos de Europa – Spain, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Roe deer, 2020 Fine Art Print Baryta — Roe deer, 2020
Fine Art Print Baryta

Badger, 2020 Fine Art Print Baryta — Badger, 2020
Fine Art Print Baryta

Absence_Portugal_Azores-Flores_cliff, 2022 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Portugal_Azores-Flores_cliff, 2022
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Spain_Pyrenees Valles Occidentalis, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Spain_Pyrenees Valles Occidentalis, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_France_Corse du Sud, 2023 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_France_Corse du Sud, 2023
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Bosnia and Herzegovina_River Una_flow, 2022 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Bosnia and Herzegovina_River Una_flow, 2022
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Italy_Sardinia_Gola di Gorropu, 2023 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Italy_Sardinia_Gola di Gorropu, 2023
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_France_Haute Corse, 2023 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_France_Haute Corse, 2023
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Netherlands_Terschelling, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Netherlands_Terschelling, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Portugal_Azores-Flores_forrest, 2022 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Portugal_Azores-Flores_forrest, 2022
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Portugal_Azores-Flores_craterlake, 2022 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Portugal_Azores-Flores_craterlake, 2022
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Slovenia_Julian Alps, 2022 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Slovenia_Julian Alps, 2022
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Spain_Cabaneros, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Spain_Cabaneros, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Croatia_River Una_spring, 2022 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Croatia_River Una_spring, 2022
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Belgium_Ardennes, 2019 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Belgium_Ardennes, 2019
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_Czech Republic_Šumava, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_Czech Republic_Šumava, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

Absence_France_Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 2021 Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper — Absence_France_Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 2021
Fine Art Print on Baryta Paper

About

Dutch photographer Vincent van Gaalen travels to the darkest areas of Europe where nocturnal darkness remains untouched by artificial light pollution. Through his meticulous photography, van Gaalen explores the age-old tension between human creation and the autonomy of nature.

In his ongoing project Absence (started in 2020), van Gaalen ventures into Europe's last truly dark regions to capture a world where humanity is absent. Working alone in these landscapes, lit only by the moon and stars, he photographs the subtle interplay of natural elements like leaves, stones, water, and air. This nocturnal darkness enhances contrasts, transforms outlines, and shifts perception from reason to imagination. The barely visible landscapes become hauntingly tangible, highlighting humanity’s vulnerability amidst nature's enduring autonomy.

Vitae

2011
Graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (Photography).
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
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
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
2022
June: Foundation Eye on Nature (€10,000)
October: Makers The Hague grant scheme for 'Clouds of Progress' (€8,000).
2022
April: NRC Cultural supplement/visual arts - review Toef Jaeger 'Zwart Landschap'
May: Trouw Zeitgeist/seeing - 'Absence'- tip from the editor Nienke Schipper
May: KlimaatExpo - online publication - 'Absence'- Calien Oudes.
May: De Lage Landen - online publication - 'Absence'- Maya Toebat