Biography

Born in 1966, Claire Dekens discovered a way to express herself using photography at the age of 48.
Dekens graduated at the SASK (Stedelijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten) in Hasselt ( Belgium ) . In her ongoing quest of mastering the image, she enrolled into the Bachelor Art Direction & Production Design at the Luca School of Arts in Genk ( Belgium ).
She put aside her job as a webdeveloper and became fulltime focussed at her new passion.
Dekens’ photography is mainly charactarized by it’s use of vivid colors. Her work of art consists of still life, sometimes in combination with self-portraits and portraits. It often references social themes and is humorous too at times.
Claire Dekens works and lives in Zonhoven, Belgium.

Artist Statement

Through the use of a lens Claire can make her imagination come true. What you see in a photo is really out there. It is almost tangible. It’s the truth that ‘s being told.
You can use photography in various ways. You can make people think, getting them confused, or even make them smile. Her still lifes and / or (self) portraits always want to draw attention to a theme that most of us are confronted with in our contemporary lives. These are often themes such as environmental pollution, climate change or gender issues.
Claire’s photography can be described as abstract. This means that everyone can fill in a part of his or her own story.
Her use of color ensures that the work never becomes gloomy, even when it comes to serious themes. The work is cheerful to look at.

Education

2017 – 2020     Bachelor Photography (Art Direction & Production Design) – Luca School of Arts (Genk)
2012 – 2017     Photography – Stedelijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten Hasselt

Workshops

2020     Workshop with Sarah & Charles (4 days)
2019     Workshop with Jan Rosseel (4 days)
2018     Workshop with Bas Losekoot (4 days)
2016     Workshop with Nicolas Karakatsanis and Nils Valkenborgh (1 day)
2014     Workshop with Jerome Bonet (5 days)

Expositions

2020    Weird is Wonderful, Wonderful is Weird – C-Mine Genk
2019     Lens op de mens – Overpelt
2019     #FotoCosaBa 6° edición – Madrid
2014     Nice to meet you – Part of the workshop with Jerome Bonet – Arles

Awards

2019     Siena International Photo Awards 2019 – Shortlist
2019    #FotoCosaBa 6° edición – Madrid – Shortlist
2019    35 Awards 5th – 2nd stage

Lectures

2019     BREEDBEELD in gesprek – Lisa De Boeck and Marilène Coolen, Willem Douven, Claire Dekens