info@charmainedeheij.com
Photographer and curator based in The Hague in the Netherlands. 
For my resume, scroll below. For information about my curatorial practice, click here.

As a person of color, I find it crucial to represent our experiences. I transform lived realities into tangible visual representations. Through my artistic work, I examine subjects in which I am personally involved. In my creations, I also aim to be a representation of my cultural heritage, being from a Surinamese and Dutch background. I want to create an understanding of this heritage and I am a storyteller of my historical narratives. The Dutch have a dark history on the matter of colonialism and colonized Suriname. The lived experience of people of color can be traced back through a wide range of topics such as racism, Black hair, systems of oppression we face, Black joy, and other relevant matters. Issues which should receive more attention, as they obtain. 

A photography-based approach is the core of my artistic practice. This approach often takes form through photographs featuring portraiture elements and still-lifes. In addition to staging photographs archives are frequently utilized as a foundation. Through collages, these historic photographs are given a new meaning. Regularly this method is applied as a way of decolonizing the archives. 

My visual work is designed to challenge people's perspectives, introducing the outside viewer into realms to which they may not yet have been exposed and providing recognition and representation of those who are already familiar. I encourage the viewer to ask questions and explore what lies beyond their current understanding. By making use of photography as an educational tool, I aim to spark a meaningful impact and engage the viewer in a dialogue. I invite the spectator to join me in critical thought and the process of reflecting. 


Education
B.A. Photography graduated in 2021  in Berlin
Master Photography & Society KABK The Hague, graduated 2023 

Exhibitions

2025

  • Freshly Brewed Slavery De Tunnel (Nijverheid) Utrecht (until 26/04)
  • RE:FWD Kunstlinie Almere (until 06/07)
  • The Joy of Ebony Stayokay Amsterdam Oost

2024

  • Crafting Futures by Squish Rotterdam The Grey Space in the Middle The Hague
  • Safe Space (:Just Kidding:) KABK The Hague
  • Onderling Kunstliefde Utrecht 
  • Een Geketende Reis Parkvilla Alphen a/d Rijn
  • Limburg Biënnale Marres Maastricht
  • UNHEARD-OF Huidenclub Rotterdam.
    Organized by ROSE Academy as part of the Visual Storytellers program
  • Museumnacht Rotterdam Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen & Cult North
  • Whinehub The Living Room Rotterdam
  • La Isla Bonita Etty Hillesum Centrum Deventer  

2023

  • Tilting at Windmills Kunstmuseum Den Haag 
  • Digital Expressions: Black Joy VR-space OSCAM Amsterdam 
  • Unmuted TedX LeidenUniversity, PLNT Leiden
  • The Collective Thought Bar Bario Amsterdam
  • Wasser Zündorfer Wehrturm Köln 
  • Fotofestival Eindhoven Sectie-C Eindhoven 
  • Keti Koti  Buurthuis Mozaïek Alphen aan den Rijn
  • Gather Up KABK The Hague
  • Keti Koti by  The Black Hague Experience Paard The Hague
  • GRRL TELEPHONE Loophole Berlin
  • Unstill Graduation show Master Photography & Society KABK The Hague

2022

  • Mi Sabi Open Eye Gallery Liverpool 
  • Penumbra de Hallen Amsterdam
  • Still Here Staromestská Galéria Zichy Bratislava
  • (Un)documented Migration Amare the Hague  
  • Bloot, by Curated the Young Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt & Leuven.
  • What's Left Behind online exhibition at https://www.sergiogomezcurates.net/whats-left-behind
  • PAUSE Atelier Cocon Coloré Berlin
  • Countercurrents V192 the Hague
  • Penumbra Northern Photographic Centre Oulu

2021

  • GRRL Telephone by GRRL HAUS CINEMA Ilali Berlin

2020

  • HAARE oder HAIR Marc-Antoine Gallery Berlin
  • Everything home is far away FK-Kollektiv Berlin
  • Your Local Newsstand online exhibition 
  • Positur#1  Stadtteil Zentrum Nordstadt Hannover
  • Home Museum by LagosPhoto Festival

2019

  • FRESH EYES Launch & Exhibition Voies Off Arles
  • Nobel Pllek Amsterdam
  • S.E.L.F. Gibberish Liverpool
  • Untitled Das Giftraum
  • Threads of Yesterday CLB, Berlin
  • Kunstroute Watertoren, Naaldwijk
  • Nobel VondelCS Amsterdam
  • Groupshow Scotiabank CONTACT PhotographyFestival  

2018

  • False Front GlogauAIR Berlin
  • Halle 424 Hamburg
  • Nobel Stadsschouwburg Haarlem
  • Monitor AIR Gallery, Manchester
  • Fear in the City Festival des Idées Paris  

2017

  • Jula Festival (self)identity exhibition, Munich
  • Ogreen Festival designkwartier
  • Solo exhibition La Dolce Berlin
  • Rejected Rum Factory London
  • Groups exhibition De Balie Amsterdam
  • Nasty Woman Josilda da Conceição Gallery Amsterdam
  • Kunsthuis 18 Naaldwijk
  • Solo exhibition Narrenkastl Frohnleiten
  • Collab Show South East Drift London  
    2011-2016
  • Kruidhuis Den Bosch, 2016
  • New Dutch photography talent 5&33 Gallery Amsterdam, 2015
  • Facing Animals Muzerije, 2015
  • Foamlab Foam Amsterdam, 2011

Readings/Talks

  • Anxiety Release Reading by ONEIRIC.SPACE
          Haus am Lützowplatz, 2020 
         with the work Melody of  Agitation
  • Designing Cities For All: Breaking the Mold Pakhuis de Zwijger Amsterdam 2022
  • Countercurrents Artist Talk V192 The Hague 2022
  • Panel Discussion Art vs Technology Fotofestival Eindhoven 2023
  • I GOT YOU by METRO54 and Nadine Stijns, De Mussen The Hague 2023.
  • Young Curator: De Kunst van Cureren by QISSA MACA Amsterdam 2024.

Prizes

  • Finalist Carte Blanche Paris Photo Fair 2022
  • Foam museum Flickr up Third price winner
  • Kunstbazaar 2016 Young Talent
  • Adobe Creative Jam 2018 Jury Award
  • Fresh Future 2019 by Fabrik Carbon
  • Blurring the Linese 2022, special mention

Collections

  • The Archives / Peter van Beveren Library The Hague ABCOLONIALISMDEFG

Selected

Publications

Copyright © Charmaine de Heij.
Using Format