PHOSPHOR by Viviane Sassen Viviane Sassen Photography Collection

About the productJapanese

A collection of works by Dutch photographer Viviane Sassen. This over 500-page book was published in conjunction with a retrospective to be held at the Maison Européen d'Etudes de la Photographie (MEP) in Paris from October 2023 to February 2024. This is the photographer's first retrospective in France, and over 200 works created over her 30 years of activity were exhibited. The cover of this book, titled "Phosphor," which means "light bringer" in Greek, was designed by Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom.

Sassen initially studied fashion design, but soon switched to photography, furthering his studies at the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU). After graduating, he began working on both commercial and personal projects, and his photographic style, which features highly saturated colors, the interplay of light and shadow, and unique depictions of the human body, quickly attracted attention and became highly sought after. He quickly gained worldwide acclaim and recognition in both the fashion industry and culture.

Tracing a career spanning more than 30 years, this book is a celebration of this incredibly talented Dutch photographer, whose vibrant portraits, landscapes, still lifes, abstract compositions and fashion editorials are all part of his work.

The book includes a number of well-known series, including Flamboya, which returns Sassen to his childhood in Kenya; Umbra, which delves into the world of shadow; Parasomnia, which explores the dreamlike concept of sleep; Roxane, a visual journal created in collaboration with a muse; and Venus & Mercury, a more recent series of photomontages of the Palace of Versailles. In this body of work, Sassen has gained international acclaim for his striking and dynamic images that explore a wide range of themes and subjects, from identity, gender and the body to race, fashion and the environment. The book includes both well-known and lesser-known works, as well as his recent series Paint Studies, which reframes his earlier works using ink and paint.

If you turn the book over and open the cover from the other side, you will find a collection of fantastical fashion pieces, and on the pages between the art pieces and the fashion pieces, the two worlds intersect. There, the boundaries collapse, and the symbiotic relationship between them becomes clear. Irma Bohm's unique book design makes this book even more enjoyable as a work of art.

Contributing to the book are art historian and theorist Dawn Ades, Head of Programmes at the European Museum of Photography Clothilde Morette, Museum of European Photography Director Simon Baker, Museum of European Photography Director Damarice Amao, Curator of Photography at the museum and at the Centre national d'art et de culture Georges Pompidou (CNAC-GP), and Dan Thawley, Editor-in-Chief of A Magazine Curated By, who offer a comprehensive look at this photographer's ever-evolving career.

Product Information

release date Available now

Part numberGPHT11744W-9783791389783

Specification W240 x H320 mm / 528 pages / Softcover / English

Notes

In-stock items usually ship within 1-3 days.
If the item is out of stock, we will inform you of the stock status and delivery date by email after you place your order. Thank you for your understanding.
We do not accept returns or exchanges of products. However, we will accept returns and exchanges if the product is defective or damaged due to our fault.