Jeu de Paume is honoring the artistic contributions of Johan van der Keuken, a renowned Dutch filmmaker and photographer, through a significant retrospective exhibition scheduled to take place from June 16 to September 17, 2023.
The retrospective showcases a collection of over a hundred vintage prints sourced from Dutch and French collections, engaging in a meaningful dialogue with a carefully curated selection of Johan van der Keuken’s short films spanning his entire body of work from 1955 to 2000. The exhibition also features original mock-ups of some of his most famous photographic books, making their debut in France. In addition, a program of full-length films provides a deeper insight into his lifelong dedication to the art of visual storytelling.
Throughout his life, van der Keuken explored the concepts of movement and rhythm through the medium of photography and film. His photographic works were influenced by the early days of direct cinema, exposing power dynamics and deconstructing established visual languages and narratives.
Van der Keuken’s keen powers of observation and his fervent desire to capture unfiltered, spontaneous, and sometimes confrontational encounters with reality are distinct characteristics of his artistic evolution. His experimental and liberated style of editing is closely intertwined with the rhythm of music and sound, juxtaposing contrasting fragments to forge a new visual language.

The exhibition is organized by the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, in collaboration with Jeu de Paume. The esteemed curators responsible for the exhibition are Frits Gierstberg, curator at the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, and Pia Viewing, curator at Jeu de Paume. The Neuflize OBC Foundation has graciously chosen to support this exhibition, with assistance from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in France.

About the Author

Johan van der Keuken( 1938-2001) was an important Dutch photographer and documentary filmmaker. During his life he published several books on photography and made over 50 documentaries. With his audiovisual work he built his own personal style of documentary film. His films are essays filmed on his travels through different parts of the world in which he offers a dialogue between reality and the possibilities of representation of documentary cinema. His films incorporate a debate about the social and cultural conditions of the multiple sites he visits and are a reflection on him as a filmmaker facing these realities.

Johan van der Keuken: The Rhythm of Images
From 16 June to 17 September 2023
Jeu de Paume – Paris

More info on:

https://jeudepaume.org/