Becoming Van Leo: A Work in Progress
The exhibition Becoming Van Leo, a Work in Progress, on the work of the Armenian/Egyptian photographer and 2000 Prince Claus Laureate Van Leo was opened on Thursday, July 7, 2011. At the opening Katia Boyadjian, Van Leo's niece and a photographer herself, shared her personal story on her uncle and his work. Zeina Arida and Karl Bassil (Arab Image Foundation / Mind the Gap) also spoke about the Arab Image Foundation and Van Leo. This exhibition is organized within the International Art Programme in Amsterdam of the Prince Claus Fund and the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts.
The photographs of Armenian-Egyptian photographer and 2000 Prince Claus Laureate Van Leo (1921-2002) provide us with a unique insight into the cosmopolitan and vibrant society of Cairo in the second half of the 20th century. Among Van Leo’s clients were theatre actors and cabaret dancers. Soldiers, strippers, journalists, intellectuals and movie stars followed. Among them were famed singers, such as Farid al-Atrash, film stars such as Omar Sharif and Rushdie Abaza, as well as iconic Egyptian writer Taha Hussein. Van Leo also took hundreds—if not close to one thousand—self-portraits, many of them previously not seen. He was surely one of the most original studio photographers of his time.
The exhibition “Becoming Van Leo: A Work in Progress” provides a view into the workings of a long-term project exploring representations of the late photographer. A selection of classic studio portraits, as well as self portraits is presented. In a further section, the exhibition presents a number of Van Leo’s studio tools, family albums, books, and personal letters.
This exhibition is organized as a part of the International Art Programme in Amsterdam of the Prince Claus Fund and the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts and is curated by Negar Azimi and Karl Bassil, Arab Image Foundation.
The exhibition can be visited from 7 July till 11 November 2011 on Mondays till Fridays from 10.00 hrs till 17.00 hrs in the Prince Claus Fund Gallery, Herengracht 603 in Amsterdam.
"his photographs create a unique document of cosmopolitan Cairo"
Report Prince Claus Awards Committee 2000
Speech Katia Boyadjian pdf - 0.3 MB
Speech Katia Boyadjian
Van Leo, self portrait
Van Leo, “Sherihan, actress”
Van Leo, night club dancers
Van leo, Contacts: QIK-N-DEX
Van Leo, Tools: Makeup and Hair
Van Leo, Mariam Fakhreddine
Van Leo, self portrait 1943
Katia Boyadjian speaks at the opening
Becoming Van Leo: A Work in Progress
Background information Van Leo
Van Leo (Levon Boyadjian) was born in Ceyhan, Turkey in 1921 and passed away in 2002. His Armenian family moved to Egypt in 1924. From his childhood home, where their father turned the bathroom into a darkroom, Van Leo and his brother Angelo launched a studio in 1941. In 1947, the brothers’ collaboration having come to an end, Van Leo opened his own studio, where he would work for nearly five decades. Van Leo was granted a Prince Claus Award in 2000.
Arab Image Foundation
The Arab Image Foundation is a network partner of the Prince Claus Fund. The Arab Image Foundation holds in its collection a number of photographs taken by Van Leo. A book on the work of Van Leo, supported by the Prince Claus Fund, is being produced by Negar Azimi and Karl Bassil. The book will be published by the Arab Image Foundation, the Prince Claus Fund and Mind the gap.
International Art Programme in Amsterdam
The Prince Claus Fund and the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts combine forces in an international art programme that brings art and culture from all over the world to Amsterdam in a series of special activities. Interesting individuals from around the world come to Amsterdam and highlight topical issues through fashion, art, photography, film, music and dance.
Check the latest news about the international Art programme on Facebook, Twitter or on the Dutch website www.internationalekunstinamsterdam.nl
Visiting hours exhibition
The exhibition can be visited free of cost from 7 July till 11 November 2011 from Mondays till Fridays from 10.00 hrs till 17.00 hrs in the Prince Claus Fund Gallery, Herengracht 603 in Amsterdam.
Collaborations
view programmeThe Fund regularly co-operates with other organisations so as, for instance, to create support for culture and development, to increase expertise and networks, and to extend financial opportunities. The Fund combines forces with many organisations, both in the Netherlands and throughout the world. Here, you will find additional information about a number of structural co-operative ventures.
Becoming Van Leo: A Work in Progresstitle
Becoming Van Leo: A Work in Progresstitle
The exhibition Becoming Van Leo, a Work in Progress, on the work of the Armenian/Egyptian photographer and 2000 Prince Claus Laureate Van Leo was opened on Thursday, July 7, 2011. At the opening Katia Boyadjian, Van Leo's niece and a photographer herself, shared her personal story on her uncle and his work. Zeina Arida and Karl Bassil (Arab Image Foundation / Mind the Gap) also spoke about...
