Michel
Vanden Eeckhoudt

Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt

biography

Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt was a Belgian photographer, born in 1947 and died in 2015. He co-founded Agence VU’ with Christian Caujolle in 1986. He is represented by the Gallery Camera Obscura in Paris.

Coming from the tradition of reportage and the “decisive moment” he is brought to collaborate widely with the press and begins in parallel his personal work by sets dedicated to “Belgian competitions” and immigrants in his country.

From the very beginning, in the rectangle of his Leica, he builds pure, elegant photographs, marked by a constant humor that allows him to adopt a fair and amused distance from what is taking place in front of his eyes since the 35mm camera lens led him to be close to people, to talk to them, as he said

If he often provokes a smile but behind this first reaction, he quickly raises a series of questions, about the nature of what he shows us (his use of reflections is really disturbing) and about the meaning – or lack of meaning – of the attitudes or situations he points out. Some of his photographs speak of loneliness and suffering, while others are filled with humor.

In 1996, he participated in the realization of a vast portrait of Tokyo commissioned by the committee responsible for a cultural exchange program between Japan and the European Community. The resulting Tokyo Today exhibition was shown in Tokyo, Copenhagen, Luxembourg, Salonika and Berlin. In the summer of 1999, the daily newspaper Libération commissioned him to do a “carte blanche” in Sicily and Martinique.

His work has led to numerous exhibitions – notably at the Center of Photography (ICP) in New York, the Musée de l’Élysée in Lausanne, and the Rencontres Internationales d’Arles, among others – as well as the publication of ten books, including an issue of the Photo Poche collection (Acte Sud, 2007) and a retrospective monograph co-edited by Le Bec en l’air and the Musée de la Photographie de Charleroi (2022).

Series

Sweet Bitter, 2013

"The universe that Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt reveals to us is not a happy one. If he does not travel the planet to bear witness to the pains of the world, if he escapes the fascination of war, drama and blood, it is clear that he does not make a pact with the world of privileges." Jean-Christophe Bailly

Travel, (1996-2007)

The series "Travel 1996-2003" covers trips to Sicily, Japan, and Turkey that were commissioned, "carte blanche" or by invitation.

Selection Photo Poche, 2007

« The look of Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt is sharp and penetrating, tender, mysterious, funny sometimes, it is the look of a man who looks at the world and finds more questions than answers.» Francine Deroudille

Sugar Traces, 2001

Reportage in Frasnes-lez-Anvaing (Belgium), that illustrate the last sugar campaign of the second millennium.

Duet, 2000

Monkey or dog, strange or familiar animal, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt does not describe. He fixes the moment of an encounter between two beings so close, so different.

Works and Days, 1999

If the working class were to disappear, sociologists, including those who have specialized in the study of the world of work, would be very annoyed. Without any object of study, they would swell the ranks of the unemployed and it is from within that they could talk about the New Poverty.

Dogs, 1997

Beauty contests, veterinary schools, training: for ten years, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt "pinned" the dog in all its states.

On the Line, 1994

It was on the border line between Belgium and France that, from 1992 to 1994, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt cast an ironic but rarely solicitous eye on his fellow men.

Belgian Competitions, 1985

From the documentary photography, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt was led to collaborate widely with the press and very early on he began his personal work with ensembles dedicated to the "Belgian Competitions".

Zoologies 1982

Animals generally have the misfortune of being the ones to whom no one asks their opinion. There are many ways to measure progress (or progress), including the pessimistic view of denying the existence of the world u progress in the history of the planet.

Immigration Chronicles, 1978

In 1976, Christian Carez and Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt began a report on immigration in Belgium, which after two years of work became Chroniques immigrées.

Sweet Bitter, 2013

"The universe that Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt reveals to us is not a happy one. If he does not travel the planet to bear witness to the pains of the world, if he escapes the fascination of war, drama and blood, it is clear that he does not make a pact with the world of privileges." Jean-Christophe Bailly

Travel, (1996-2007)

The series "Travel 1996-2003" covers trips to Sicily, Japan, and Turkey that were commissioned, "carte blanche" or by invitation.

Selection Photo Poche, 2007

« The look of Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt is sharp and penetrating, tender, mysterious, funny sometimes, it is the look of a man who looks at the world and finds more questions than answers.» Francine Deroudille

Sugar Traces, 2001

Reportage in Frasnes-lez-Anvaing (Belgium), that illustrate the last sugar campaign of the second millennium.

Duet, 2000

Monkey or dog, strange or familiar animal, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt does not describe. He fixes the moment of an encounter between two beings so close, so different.

Works and Days, 1999

If the working class were to disappear, sociologists, including those who have specialized in the study of the world of work, would be very annoyed. Without any object of study, they would swell the ranks of the unemployed and it is from within that they could talk about the New Poverty.

Dogs, 1997

Beauty contests, veterinary schools, training: for ten years, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt "pinned" the dog in all its states.

On the Line, 1994

It was on the border line between Belgium and France that, from 1992 to 1994, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt cast an ironic but rarely solicitous eye on his fellow men.

Belgian Competitions, 1985

From the documentary photography, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt was led to collaborate widely with the press and very early on he began his personal work with ensembles dedicated to the "Belgian Competitions".

Zoologies 1982

Animals generally have the misfortune of being the ones to whom no one asks their opinion. There are many ways to measure progress (or progress), including the pessimistic view of denying the existence of the world u progress in the history of the planet.

Immigration Chronicles, 1978

In 1976, Christian Carez and Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt began a report on immigration in Belgium, which after two years of work became Chroniques immigrées.

Sweet Bitter, 2013

"The universe that Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt reveals to us is not a happy one. If he does not travel the planet to bear witness to the pains of the world, if he escapes the fascination of war, drama and blood, it is clear that he does not make a pact with the world of privileges." Jean-Christophe Bailly

Travel, (1996-2007)

The series "Travel 1996-2003" covers trips to Sicily, Japan, and Turkey that were commissioned, "carte blanche" or by invitation.

Selection Photo Poche, 2007

« The look of Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt is sharp and penetrating, tender, mysterious, funny sometimes, it is the look of a man who looks at the world and finds more questions than answers.» Francine Deroudille

Sugar Traces, 2001

Reportage in Frasnes-lez-Anvaing (Belgium), that illustrate the last sugar campaign of the second millennium.

Duet, 2000

Monkey or dog, strange or familiar animal, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt does not describe. He fixes the moment of an encounter between two beings so close, so different.

Works and Days, 1999

If the working class were to disappear, sociologists, including those who have specialized in the study of the world of work, would be very annoyed. Without any object of study, they would swell the ranks of the unemployed and it is from within that they could talk about the New Poverty.

Dogs, 1997

Beauty contests, veterinary schools, training: for ten years, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt "pinned" the dog in all its states.

On the Line, 1994

It was on the border line between Belgium and France that, from 1992 to 1994, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt cast an ironic but rarely solicitous eye on his fellow men.

Belgian Competitions, 1985

From the documentary photography, Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt was led to collaborate widely with the press and very early on he began his personal work with ensembles dedicated to the "Belgian Competitions".

Zoologies 1982

Animals generally have the misfortune of being the ones to whom no one asks their opinion. There are many ways to measure progress (or progress), including the pessimistic view of denying the existence of the world u progress in the history of the planet.

Immigration Chronicles, 1978

In 1976, Christian Carez and Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt began a report on immigration in Belgium, which after two years of work became Chroniques immigrées.

InterviewS

Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt
Zarman Daily Newspaper
—
2012

A photograph is the eye and the heart of a newspaper. The daily newspaper Zaman crowns its 25-year journey with a project that is the most comprehensive photographic work ever launched in Turkey. Within the framework of this project, entitled “Türkiye’de Zaman”/Time in Turkey, the newspaper has invited 25 world-renowned photographers to tell stories in photos that reflect the life and problems of Turkey from their particular point of view. These masters of photography, who have recorded the pain, joy and hope of people in their own style, in various places and hotspots around the world, under sometimes difficult conditions, and whose work is published in internationally prestigious publications, have come together for the great “Photo of Turkey” for Zaman including the photographer Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt. He was the guest of Turkish nomads living in Mersin.

Exhibitions

« Vanden Eeckhoudt »
—
Festival Image Singulières – La Chapelle du Quartier Haut
—
From May 18 to June 11, 2023

More information

books

Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt

Le Bec en l'air - 2022

Doux-amer

Delpire - 2013

Photo Poche 110

Actes Sud - 2007

Traces de sucre

Quo Vadis - 2001

Les fours à chaux de Chercq

Snoeck Publishers - 2001

Duo

Nathan / Delpire - 2000

Les travaux et les jours

Actes Sud - 1999

Chiens

Marval - 1997

Sur la ligne

Centre regional de la photographie - 1994

Concours Belges

1985

Zoologies

Robert Delpire - 1982

Chroniques immigrées

Vie ouvrière - 1978

Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt

Le Bec en l'air - 2022

Doux-amer

Delpire - 2013

Photo Poche 110

Actes Sud - 2007

Traces de sucre

Quo Vadis - 2001

Les fours à chaux de Chercq

Snoeck Publishers - 2001

Duo

Nathan / Delpire - 2000

Les travaux et les jours

Actes Sud - 1999

Chiens

Marval - 1997

Sur la ligne

Centre regional de la photographie - 1994

Concours Belges

1985

Zoologies

Robert Delpire - 1982

Chroniques immigrées

Vie ouvrière - 1978

Michel Vanden Eeckhoudt

Le Bec en l'air - 2022

Doux-amer

Delpire - 2013

Photo Poche 110

Actes Sud - 2007

Traces de sucre

Quo Vadis - 2001

Les fours à chaux de Chercq

Snoeck Publishers - 2001

Duo

Nathan / Delpire - 2000

Les travaux et les jours

Actes Sud - 1999

Chiens

Marval - 1997

Sur la ligne

Centre regional de la photographie - 1994

Concours Belges

1985

Zoologies

Robert Delpire - 1982

Chroniques immigrées

Vie ouvrière - 1978