Carine Van Gerven is an art photographer. Eye-catching creativity is the theme throughout her artistic life.
When she was a child, she used to draw cartoons on big rolls of wallpaper. Straight from the start she won art competitions for children, created remarkable photos and organised her own exhibitions together with her sister. She wrote fairy tales and poems.
The next step was the admission to the local art academy ‘Kunstacademie Noord-Limburg’ (Belgium) where she could use her energy and creativity. At the same time, she joined the children’s choir because Carine also wanted to become a singer.
After secondary school she continued her studies of painting and monumental art of painting at the vocational college ‘Provinciaal Hoger Kunstinstituut’ in Hasselt (Belgium). She graduated with honour for her thesis, a large mural, and was appointed teacher in art education.
Besides teaching, allowing Carine to give her very best, she has built a personal career with regular exhibitions in different cultural centres.
Photography has become most important in the meantime. Carine started teaching less and became a member of the national association for professional photographers in Belgium.
Her commitment as a local councillor of culture resulted in the international photo festival of ‘Lens op de Mens’ (Spotlight on People), a bi-annual exhibition which makes photography art accessible for all, in Pelt (Belgium).
Carine has published photography books about special women who create a movement in society. This stimulates her.
Her photos have been exhibited in Bourbon Lancy in France.
She acts as curator for the International Festival Helphoto in Helsinki in Finland.
The biggest challenge for her will always be the perfected technical control of light – a challenge she does not avoid. Carine links possibilities of modern photography to her education of painting resulting in a painting of light in front of the camera.
She was awarded the qualification ‘The European Photographer’ and was selected three times for participating in the World Photographic Cup.
During the few hours she still teaches, Carine motivates her pupils to experiment with art and creation of photos. This is how her first ‘tableau vivant’ came into being.
More followed allowing Carine to evolve from ceremonial photography to orchestrated photography. It has become her way of communicating. Each composition holds an intimate and timeless history.
Carine Van Gerven shows not only man as an individual, but also businesses, occasions, groups, ideas or relevant social themes.
She uncovers subtitle links with a lot of empathy and symbolism and uncovers a story behind each each composition.
