Biography
Axelle VM Philtjens (°2000) is a Belgian visual artist.
From an early age, Axelle was fascinated by art and it’s many forms. She obtained an academic bachelor and master degree in Visual Arts Photography at the Academic of Visual Arts Photography LUCA School of Arts, in Genk, BE.
Axelle VM Philtjens’ work revolves around anthropology, the human psyche, time and transience. She’s intrigued by its workings and possibilities but also the passing and effect of time. As a visual artist she views the world in different forms and layers which she explores mostly in her polaroid works.
Most of Philtjens’ works are experimental.
Some works revolve around the human mind and memory,
while others focus on the concept of time.
They are usually looked at from a research point of view. She’s always seen with at least one polaroid camera on her.
Axelle VM Philtjens’ preferred mediums to work with are polaroids, staged documentary, a mixture of analog with sometimes digital photography and video projections.
Artist statement
Photography is a medium which has the ability to capture the many layers of reality. Afterwards it puts those together in single images.
As an artist Axelle VM Philtjens views the world in layers and transient parts.
To her photography is a tool used to expose and dissect these layers to be able to see and research them. She will use staged documentary, experimental polaroid's and video to discover these.
As an artist Axelle VM Philtjens is both fascinated by the versatility of humanity and the passing of time. According to her the human mind is much more complex than we realize, divided in its many parts and layers. So is time, a concept humanity still cannot grasp.
Photography is the tool used to take the mind, body and world apart in a different way. Her work tends to be both destructive, yet abstract and poetic.
Her goal is to expose what we don't see and make the viewer aware of both themselves and the metaphysical world around them. She puts the pieces of broken up stories back together.
Contact:
Mail: ax.vm@outlook.com
Instagram: Photaxgraphy
Facebook: Photaxgraphy
Artrepreneur: Axelle VM Philtjens
Linkedin: Axelle Philtjens
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Studies
Visual Arts Photography, BA, Luca School of Arts Genk, BE, 2018 - 2021
Visual Arts Photography, MA, Luca School of Arts Genk, BE, 2021 - 2022
Bisart: Business and Art, TVET, Cultuurloket, Leuven, BE, 2023
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Group exhibitions
2020: Group exhibition Weird is Wonderful, Wonderful is Weird - C-mine Genk BE
2021: Group exhibition Fragmentility - Kavka Oudaan Antwerp BE
2022: Group exhibition Lost in Translation - De Markthallen Herk-de-stad BE
2022: Group exhibition EXIT - CCHA Hasselt BE
2022: Group exhibition PhotoTWENS 2022 - Kapel Romaanse Poort Leuven BE
2022: Group exhibition History of the future - Sint Jans Hospitaal Damme BE
2022: Group exhibition What Remains... - Gallery Nostrum Waver BE
2022: Group exhibition Rûm issue °V - Kulturverein - Oag AT
2023: Group exhibition Canyon - online & physical projection in RuptureXIBIT, UK
2023: Group exhibition zomeratelier - De Bogaard, Sint-Truiden, BE
2023: Group exhibition It's not black and white - Gallery Nostrum Waver BE
2023: Group exhibition Vitrinetour - Sint-Truiden, BE
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Residencies:
CC De Bogaard summer residency - 2023
Arteles Finland - Silence Awareness Existence - 2024
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Publications:
2022: Meet the artist: ‘Axelle VM Philtjens tracks time in polaroid photography’ in Art Guide by Artrepreneur
https://artrepreneur.com/journal/artguide/axelle-vm-philtjens-polaroid-photography/
2022: Publication of ‘Out of my hands 3’ in Rûm magazine issue °V
2022: ‘Reminiscing about the past’ Member Feature in Artdoc Magazine
https://www.artdoc.photo/submissions/reminiscing-about-the-past
2022: Publication in the PhotoTWENS 2022 catalog
2023: Isabelle I series published in Artlit Magazine
2023: Publication of Tarditas Temporis in The Annhilation of Space and Time, JP
2024: Picturing Time in Dovetail magazine
https://dovetailmag.com/2024/02/axelle-vm-philtjens/
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Interviews and press
2022: Meet the artist: ‘Axelle VM Philtjens tracks time in polaroid photography’ in Art Guide by Artrepreneur
https://artrepreneur.com/journal/artguide/axelle-vm-philtjens-polaroid-photography/
October 2022: Interview about History of the future for Radio Luca
2022: Denderland TV S1 episode 662 featured the works Domus Beate Marie & Tarditas Temporis on exhibit during History of the future
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Open Calls
2021: Group exhibition Postmodern Photomontages - Artdoc magazine - https://www.artdoc.photo/online-exhibition/postmodern-photomontages
2022: Winner Slow Photography - Artrepreneur
Winning image - Under The Bridge - https://artrepreneur.com/winners/Slow%20Photography
2022: PhotoTWENS 2022 laureate, Unexposed
Internships
Vonk Kunstenwerkplaats - 2022
https://www.vonkateliers.com/
