Hendrik & Paula Kerstens: Self-Reflective

For the first time in a decade, the exhibition Self-Reflective brings together again the distinctive probing portraits of internationally recognized photographer Hendrik Kerstens. In addition to surprising masterpieces, new work not previously shown will also be on display, including a three-dimensional work.

Fashion
For many years, Kerstens has regularly worked with his daughter Paula as a model for his portraits. He works with household objects such as cake rims, whipped cream syringes or a mop. The portraits play with the Flemish-Dutch portraiture of simplicity and ordinariness.

Series of self-portraits
By now Paula is an adult and an art history graduate. She has further enriched the images with her art historical knowledge. In the process, the influence on her images has become more and more extensive. For example, when photographing, the monitor of the digital camera is pointed at her. Meanwhile, and the title of the exhibition also indicates this, the Paula series is gradually becoming a series of self-portraits.

Collaboration
The exhibition Self-Reflective is a collaboration with Leiden University Libraries, which houses a knowledge and research center for photography. Guest curator is Maartje van den Heuvel, curator of Photography at Leiden University Libraries

credit © Hendrik en Paula Kerstens, Golden Cake Hat, 2022