ABOUT

Monique Belier is a photographer from the Netherlands, with a background in dance. Last year (2023), she graduated from the Photo Academy in Amsterdam. Her graduation project, a photo artist-book 'Where the Spirit Meets the Bone' was distributed across many countries, available in bookshops like: Tipi Bookshop in Brussels, Le Bal in Paris and other shops in, Milan, Lisbon, London, and more. Additionally, it found a place in the photo book library in Salzburg and was curated by esteemed institutions such as Huis Marseille and Foam in Amsterdam.

In 2023, Belier was selected as a Fresh Eyes talent, leading to her participation at Haute Photography in Amsterdam. Furthermore, she was chosen for the OFF Bratislava festival to present her book. Her work garnered further praise and was recognised by Robin Titchener in the list of the best photo books of 2023. Belier's work has been featured in various magazines and exhibited in several countries.

In August 2024, Belier presented her solo exhibition Inner Movement at Atelier K84 in Amsterdam. She was shortlisted for the Athens Photo Festival and is featured in the group exhibition Corporeality in Paris, taking place from November 8 to 10. Additionally, she is exhibiting at the Head On Festival in Sydney, Australia, as a semi-finalist. Belier is also a member of Atelier Néerlandais in Paris and has been curating photo exhibitions at De Engelbewaarder in Amsterdam since October 2023.

Artist Statement

The focus of my practise lies in the human psyche, memories and making emotions, for which we often lack words, visible. Movement is an essential element of my photography and is necessary to capture emotion, but not the goal itself.

Many of the images revolve around a deep-seated fear of disappearing, not being seen, or being consumed. Through this, I explore my own experiences with depression and a panic disorder that has played a significant role in my life since 2017.

The stories that emerge are raw and personal, yet at the same time universal and recognisable. I invite the audience to recognise themselves in the work, where both the subject and the environment reflect the inner movement of our deepest emotions.

Education

2023 | BA Fotoacademie Amsterdam, graduated in may 2023

Exhibitions Coming up & Current

Exhibitions /Festivals Past

2024 | Head On Photo festival, Group exhibition, Sydney - AUS
2024 | Photobook Fair Contretype, Brussels - BE
2024 | Fotoboeken Festival and Interview, Rietveldpaviljoen, Amersfoort - NL
2024 | Art Icon Group Exhibition "Corporeality" Bastille district, Paris - FR
2024 | Polycopies, Paris - FR
2024 | Miss Read Photo Book Fair, Berlin - DE
2024 | Between Books, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf Art Book Fair - DE
2024 | Unseen book market, Self Publishers United, Amsterdam - NL
2024 | Solo Exhibition ‘Inner Movement’ atelier K84, Amsterdam - NL
2024 | Photo Book Table event in collaboration with Self Publishers United - NL
2024 | Leipzig Photobookfestival, Selfpublishers United - DE
2024 | Reflection of Time (Group) Expo at Arti Pop Gallerie, Den Bosch - NL
2024 | Calabro Gallery, Group Openings Exhibition, Zurich - CH
2023 | DRUK Art-book Festival, Paradiso, Amsterdam - NL
2023 | Pim Pam Foto Festival, ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’, Barcelona - ES
2023 | Solo Exhibition & release second edition of ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ De Engelbewaarder, curated by Evelien Schotsman - Amsterdam,NL
2023 | Arle Les Rencontres Photo Festival, Represented by Tipi Photobook shop - FR
2023 | Paris Photo, Polycopies, Paris, with ‘Where the spirit meets the bone, represented by Setanta books, - FR
2023 | OFF Bratislava photo festival ‘Where the spirits meets the bone’, Bratislava - SK
2023 | Haute Photography Book launch & group exhibition FRESH EYES, international talent by GUP, Amsterdam - NL
2023 | UNSEEN book market, Westergasfabriek, with ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ , Amsterdam - NL
2023 | Expo Emergo, graduation exhibition, Loods 6 - Amsterdam - NL
2023 | My Girl with the Pearl, Mauritshuis, Den Haag - NL
2022 | Het Oog, group exhibition, Fotoacademie, Amsterdam - NL

Awards / Grants / Nominations

2024 | 1839 Photographer of the Year Awards, Nominated - VS
2024 | Bifa Awards, Bronze, Portfolio (other )’In Search of Nijinsky’, Budapest - HU
2024 | Head On Photo Festival, Semi Finalist, Sydney - AU
2024 | IPA, Honourable mention ‘Lena’ Portraits/People - VS
2024 | FAPA Fine Art Photography Award Nominations
2024 | Athens Photofestival shortlisted - GR
2024 | The Artist photo book, selected by Origini Edizioni - IT
2024 | Monochrome Awards, Honorable Mention, Professional Conceptual Category 2024
2023 | IPA, Honourable mention ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - VS
2023 | IPA, Official Selection in the International Photography Awards - VS
2023 | Fresh Eyes international talent, powered by GUP - NL
2023 | OFFBratislava, OFF Libris, Selected to be showcased ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - SK

Publications / Clients / Features

2024 | ‘L intervalle blog, interview and publication of ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ by Fabian Ribery
2024 | Dutch Film Festival, Utrecht Central Station, Portraits of Cia Syrroes & Asma el Mouden (Wie is het?) - NL
2024 | Parool, Publicatie, review by Peter van Brummelen ‘Inner Movement - NL
2024 | Immemory Magazine, Instagram publication - GB
2024 | Focus Magazine, Online publication ‘Inner movement’ - NL
2024 | Solo Journal, Instagram takeover - GB
2024 | Photo art books Recommendation List ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - ES
2024 I Dance For you Magazine, Printed publication ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - DE
2023 | Robin Titchener’s Photo Book List 2023 - UK
2023 | Photo 31, Sunday with Monique Belier, online feature - NL
2023 | Darkroom Session Newsletter by Isabel Hernández, ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - ES
2023 | Kiekie Tabloid, Publication book ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - NL
2023 | Book, Camera Acting, Roel Twijnstra, Publication portrait of Andre Dongelmans - NL
2023 | Safelight Paper, Project (book) ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ (website stories and instagram) - DE
2023 | PF photo magazine, Books - NL
2023 | Fotolab Kiekie, insta take over - NL
2023 | Parool, PS magazine, ‘Het beste volgens PS’ ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - NL
2023 | Gup Fresh Eyes, Publication - NL
2023 | Dans Magazine, Publication ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ Printed Photo series - NL
2023 | Dansdocent.nu, ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’, Printed Photo series - NL
2023 | Artists-Ability, Press photos Andre Dongelmans - NL
2023 | Interview Playboy, Portrait of Andre Dongelmans - NL
2023 | Mauritshuis Den Haag, ‘My girl with the pearl’ Photo feature - NL
2023 | Carli Singer & Songwriter, Cover Art - NL
2023 | Photo Vogue Italia, Digital Photo Feature - IT
2023 | Galerie Calabrovska Zurich, Artist in Focus, Online Feature - CH
2022 | WestFries Krant Newspaper, Westfries Portret (monthly column) - NL
2022 | Photo Vogue Italia, Digital Photo Feature - IT
2022 | Kunstbende, Roscharch Collective, Portrait - NL

2021 | NHD Vrij magazine, Zomerbijlage, Printed interview - NL
2021 | NH-Nieuws, Small Town Boy, Published Project - NL
2021 | De Drom, Newspaper, Small Town Boy, Printed Project - NL
2021 | NRC, Newspaper ‘Small Town Boy’ Printed Project & Interview - NL
2021 | Cinecrowd filmproject, De dansende man’, Andrè Dongelmans, Online publication - NL

2020 | Dupho newsletter (Mei 2020), Online Photo Feature - NL
2020 | Merik Spitteler, Singer & Songwriter, Cover Art - NL
2019 | Tenachon, ‘Sterke Vrouw’, Seven Portraits, Printed Publication - NL
2018 | Zoom.nl, Course book, sluitertijd & diafragma, Printed Publication - NL

Bookshops, Libraries / Points of sale

Huis Marseille (Amsterdam), The Photo Book Corner (Lisbon), Tipi Bookshop (Brussels), Maria Inc (Barcelona), Self Publishers United (Amsterdam), Leporello Bookshop (Rome), Athenaeum Boekhandel (Amsterdam), Setanta Books (London), LE BAL Books (Paris), Guest Editions (London), Fotohof Photo Library (Salzburg), Serchia Gallery (Bristol) FOAM (Amsterdam) Ballon Rouge (Rotterdam)

Writing

2022 | Monthly Column West Frisian Newspaper
2019 | Godijn Publishing, Short story ‘The Hike’ Short story novel ‘Verloren zielen’
2018 | Godijn Publishing, Short Story ‘Ben’ Short story novel ‘Grijze klever’
2018 | Metro Nieuws, Short story ‘Jurk’

Books / Magazines

2024 | Temps Mort, collective book edited by Raymond Meeks, created during Palm Tree Workshops
2023 | Where the spirit meets the bone, second edition (Sept. 2023) of 150 self-published
2023 | Where the spirit meets the bone, first edition (May 2023) of 100 self-published (sold out)
2021 | Small Town Boy, Magazine, 80 copies (sold out) self-published

Reviews / Interviews / Other

2024 | Interview by Twan Vet about:' ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’, Photobook festival RietveldPaviljoen in Amersfoort - NL
2024 | Review by Volkmar Draeger, Dance For You Magazine - DE
2024 | Book Presentation, Zocherlounge, Bloemendaal - NL
2024 | Curator recurring exhibitions at literair café ‘De Engelbewaarder’ (With Ringel Goslinga, since november 2023) Amsterdam - NL
2024 | Member of Atelier Néerlandais - FR
2023 | Part and founder of lens-based collective ‘Beeldverbond’ - NL
2023 | Represented by Maria Inc. - ES
2023 | Represented by Self Publishers United - NL
2023 | Review by Robin Titchener, Photo book, Where the spirit meets the bone - UK
2023 | Review by Alex Prior, Photo book, Where the spirit meets the bone - UK
2023 | Editors pick Hue & Eye Magazine, Interview Digital - NL
2021 I Interview Talkshow ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ Pakhuis de Zwijger - NL
2021 I Interview Weeff Radio ‘Small Town Boy’ - NL

Workshops / Masterclasses
2024 | Temps Mort -Exploring a slow, serial aesthetic, workshop by Raymond Meeks, Palm Tree Workshops, Santorini - GR
2024 | Masterclass "The Artist photobook - The Making Of" at Origini Edizioni by Ilias Georgiadis, Eugenia Koval, Matilde Vittoria Laricchia, Livorno - IT
2019 | Magnum Learning Course, Storytelling, Alec Soth
2018 | Masterclass Lightshaping, Brendan de Clercq - NL
2017 | Pré-course photography digital, Fotoacademie Amsterdam, Mike Harris