SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Chris Keulen studied Dutch literature at the University of Nijmegen, and Visual arts at the Royal Academy of arts in The Hague. For many years he worked on long-term projects that resulted in exhibitions, publications and books. Mostly the projects are the results of his own ideas and initiatives: vulnerable love, tour d’Afrique, Chez Nous, Africa 50, traversées, etc. Sometimes his initiatives resulted in assignments: Ministery of foreign affairs (Rwanda), Medecins sans Frontieres (Congo DRC), Leprosy foundation (Moçambique), NRC (Sénégal), Trouw (sugarcanes), Geo (giro d’Eritrea), NRW (wo ist die Grenze)
Keulen received two World Press Photo Awards and won the Zilveren Camera in 2017. Before this general prize he received eleven Zilveren Camera Awards and honorable mentions from Unicef, the Dick Scherpenzeel Foundation and the Philip de Cock Foundation. From 2020-2024 the Mondriaanfund will be supporting him with a stipendium for established artists.
Chris Keulen published three books: ‘Rwanda, land zonder horizon’ (1997), ‘Hete glassplinters; le tour d’Afrique’ (2008) and ‘Chez Nous’ (2013). Keulen’s work has been published in NRC Handelsblad, Trouw, de Volkskrant, Quest, de Morgen, Geo, The Observer, National Geographic and many others. Visa Pour l’Image in Perpignan exhibited his work three times.
Keulen's 'Le tour d'Afrique' shows the most important cycling races in Africa (Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Senegal, Cameroon) but is much more a social document on the power of the continent.
‘Chez Nous’ reflects the world as seen by Chris Keulen during his many wanderings through his homeregion, Limburg and the Meuse-Rhine Euregion (Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands) over the past years. 'Chez Nous' is a highly individual portrait of life in a border region where the power centres of Amsterdam, Brussels and Berlin seem far away. The book also provides insight into the human comedy that sometimes masks human tragedy. The book has a tendency of surrealism, caused by the split between modern times and the adherence to traditions.
Keulen lives in Maastricht, The Netherlands and is represented by Panos Pictues in London, Laif in Cologne and Hollandse Hoogte in Amsterdam.
EDUCATION:
Royal Academy of Arts, The Hague, The Netherlands
Master’s Dutch language and literature, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Atheneum, Geleen, The Netherlands
ice hockey player
BOOKS:
2013: ‘Chez Nous’, Maastricht
2008: ‘Hete glasspinters; le tour d’Afrique’, Ipso Facto, Utrecht
1999: ‘Maastricht in 2010’, Maastricht
1997: ‘Rwanda, land zonder horizon’, L.J. Veen, Amsterdam
AWARDS:
2022: 1st prize ‘zilveren camera’ international news
2018: winner ‘zilveren camera’ overall
2014: longlist Dutchdoc
2011: 3e prize World Press Photo, series
2006: 3th prize ‘zilveren camera’ daily life
2005: 1st prize ‘zilveren camera’ national news
2003: 2nd prize ‘zilveren camera’ daily life
2002: honorable mention Unicef Photo of the year
2002: 3th prize ‘zilveren camera’ daily life
2001: 1st prize ‘zilveren camera’ sportseries
2000: 1st prize World Press Photo’ sport-series
2000: 2nd prize ‘zilveren camera’ arts
2000: 2nd prize ‘zilveren camera’ sports
1999: 3th prize ‘zilveren camera’ documentary photography
1999: 1st prize ‘zilveren camera’ daily news
1998: 1st prize ‘zilveren camera’ national news
1998: 1st prize Philip de Cock, Belgium
1998: honourable mention ‘Dick scherpenzeelstichting’
1997: Fujifilm photographer of the year
1996: 1st prize ‘zilveren camera’ international news
GRANTS:
2020-2024: stipendium Mondriaanfund for established artists
2010-2013: grant province of Limburg, ‘Chez Nous’
2010-2013: grant Edmond Hustinxstichting, ‘Chez Nous’
2010-2013: grant Elisabeth Strouvenstichting, ‘Chez Nous’
2007-2008: grant Rabobank, ‘Hete glassplinters’, le tour d’Afrique
2007-2008: publicationgrant Fonds BKVB, ‘Hete glassplinters’, le tour d’Afrique
2005-2007: grant FondsBKVB, cycling in Afrika
2005-2007: grant newspaper Trouw, ‘Camille’
2005-2007: grant special journalistic projects, ‘Camille’
2000-2005: grant FondsBKVB, ‘Hete glassplinters’, le tour d’Afrique
1995-1997: NDCO, book and expo Rwanda
EXHIBITIONS/LECTURES:
2023: group exhibition Limburg Museum, Venlo
2022: duo exhibition ‘Traversées’, museum Niederrhein, Wesel, Germany
2022: solo exhibition ‘Tour d’Afrique’, Alden Biesen, Belgium
2022: guest lecturer academy of arts, Maastricht
2022: group exhibition ‘zilveren camera’, museum Hilversum
2019: group exhibition ‘Public Secrets’, Bureau Europa, Maastricht
2018: group exhibition ‘zilveren camera’, Museum Hilversum
2017: solo exhibition ‘Traversées’, Maison des métiers d'art, Liege
2015: solo exhibition ‘Chez Nous’, CCHA, Hasselt
2015: group exhibition Photobiënnale Condroz
2014: guest lecturer academy of arts, Maastricht
2014: group exhibition 'Vies en tranches', Atelier340, Brussels
2014: group exhibition ‘DutchDoc’, Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam
2013: solo exhibition ‘Chez Nous’, 10 billboards 3x2m, public space Maastricht
2013: solo exhibition Zuiderlicht, Maastricht
2013: group exhibition ‘The other Hundred’, Pacific Place, Hong Kong
2012: group exhibition ‘Secret Postcards’, Jan van Eyck, Maastricht
2012: solo exhibition ‘Tour d’Afrique’, 12 billboards 6x5m, public space
2012: group exhibition ‘Call the world brother’, Aberystwyth, Wales
2011-2012: group exhibition World Press Photo, 102 locations worldwide
2011: solo exhibition ‘Giro dell’Eritrea’, Asmara, Eritrea
2010: group exhibition ‘Congo DRC’, De Balie, Amsterdam
2010: group exhibition ‘Myth Berlin’, Museum het Domein, Maastricht
2009: solo exhibition, 16 billboards 3x2m, public space Emmen
2009: solo exhibition Zuiderpershuis, ‘Hete glassplinters’, Antwerp
2008: solo exhibition, Galerie Husson, Bruxelles
2008: group exhibition ‘Heimat Hotel’, Breda Photo, Breda
2008: solo exhibition ‘Speichernhöfen’, Cologne
2008: show Visapourlimage, Perpignan
2008: solo exhibition OBA, Amsterdam
2008: group exhibition ‘Misere Nobis’ Grote Kerk, Leeuwarden
2008: solo exhibition ‘Tour d’Afrique’, Centre Céramique, Maastricht
2008: group exhibition Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam
2007: solo exhibition RK-church Nes, Ameland
2007: group exhibition ‘Act of faith’, Noorderlicht, Groningen
2006: group exhibition ‘Revela’, Oleiros, La Coruna
2006: group exhibition’God among the Dutch’, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht
2006: group exhibition Foam, Amsterdam
2004: group exhibition ‘Unicef’, Photokina, Cologne
2003: group exhibition ‘Congo DRC’, fotofestival Naarden
2002: show Visapourlimage, Perpignan
2001: show Visapourlimage, Perpignan
2001-2002: group exhibition World Press Photo, 42 locations worldwide
2000: group exhibition Kunstrai, Amsterdam
1998-1999: solo exhibition ‘Rwanda’, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht
1997-1998: solo exhibition Africamuseum, Berg en Dal