In a world where civilisation often comes with conflict, poverty and destruction of our natural environment, I feel lost. The temptation to drift away on superficial distraction is strong. It feels as though we are collectively drawn into meek acceptance. While holding on to ordinary patterns, ideals are dismissed as naive and searching for meaning as pointless. At the same time, I strongly feel the urge to give weight against this cynicism. I believe in the power of showing beauty in the world, as an antidote to giving in to darkness.
With my camera as a compass, I set out to wander. In search of places and moments of meaning before they disappear into a fading echo amidst the complexity of human existence. I cross the borders of imagination and reality, blending the familiar with the elusive world of dreams and desire. My images fuse these two dimensions. Using intimate moments, a dreamy atmosphere and a subtle play of contrasts, I bring to light the wish for a unspoild world. This act of balance is central to my work; it is a constant search for harmony of reality and imagination, the familiar and the elusive.
Children often play a role in my images. Through their eyes, you see the world anew; as a magic realm of unknown possibilities and endless wonder. A place where the boundaries between time and timelessness dissolve, where the present merges with eternity. Their open-minded outlook on the world is precious, but largely lost as they age. An inevitable process of the innocent playfulness being pushed away by the pressure of adulthood. As if we have forgotten that this view, this connection, reminds us of the essence of life itself. The children’s gaze, as an echo from a forgotten time, resounds in the silence of our adult world, whispering to be heard and cherished, as a guide to a better, more connected future.
About Myself
My name is Rianne Tegelaar. I was born in 1981 and live in Utrecht, Netherlands. At the age of 9, I got my hands on my first camera and discovered my love for photography. It took many years and wanderings before I obtained my diploma from the Fotoacademie Amsterdam in 2023. Since successfully completing my Conceptual Image course, I have focused entirely on photography. In 2023, I was named one of the Fresh Eyes International Talents. My work made it onto the longlist of the Incadaques Fotofestival, I was a finalist for the Life Framer Series Awards 2024, and my book was selected for the OFF Bratislava festival. In addition to group exhibitions, I exhibited my work during my first solo exhibition at Atelier K84 in February 2024.