Bastiaan Woudt I Dots I 135x180cm Framed I Edition of 3 I Courtesy WILLAS contemporary I Enquire
BASTIAAN WOUDT
— Monochromatic minimalism; a contemporary twist to classic photography
We are thrilled to introduce Bastiaan Woudt (1987, NL) and welcome you to his first solo exhibition in the Nordic countries!
The exhibition lasts until the 20th of April - our opening hours are 9-17.00 Monday till Friday at WILLAS contemporary — IVAR - Tändstickspalatset - Våstra Trådgårdsgatan 15 - Stockholm.
Bastiaan Woudt began his photographic practice only a decade ago, with no experience or formal training. He has since then developed a distinct signature style — by experimenting with both in-camera and post-production techniques. Drawing inspiration from classic black-and-white photographs by 20th-century masters Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, he aims to capture the quality of analogue photography through digital means.
Woudt’s photography represents an exploration of abstraction and form in pursuit of what he refers to as ‘monochromatic minimalism’. In his work, you will find deep charcoal tones, sublime dance with light and shadow, and precise compositions with a hint of surrealism. Woudt’s work plays with the beauty of imperfection — often inspired by 50s, 60s and 70s photography.
Woudt uses his gut feeling to guide the process. You’ll rarely find mood boards in his studio or detailed shooting lists. Besides intricate portraits and minimalistic nudes captured in his studio, he loves travelling to exotic places in Africa, Nepal and Morocco.
The Dutch artist has published ten photobooks to date and exhibited widely at international fairs such as Paris Photo, AIPAD New York, Photo London, Photo Shanghai and Photo Market at Fotografiska. His portfolio includes commissions for clients such as Harper’s Bazaar, British Vogue, New York Magazine and Numéro Paris — to name a few. In 2022, his first solo museum exhibition Twist was held at Bergen’s Museum Kranenburgh.
MEANWHILE - AT PHILLIPS IN NEW YORK
Phillips X presents BASTIAAN WOUDT: ESSENCE, a selling exhibition dedicated to the bold aesthetic of the contemporary Dutch artist. Comprising 13 last-in-edition works that are among his most sought-after images, this event marks Woudt’s first exhibition in New York, a testament to his undeniable resonance in the international art sphere. All the works on offer are the last-available prints from the edition of 10 plus two artist’s proofs. Furthermore, eight of the works are no longer available in the other sizes and edition, making this a unique opportunity to acquire these exceptional images.
Phillips successfully debuted Bastiaan Woudt at auction via ULTIMATE as a highlight of the London Photographs sale in 2019 and has since then achieved a sell-through rate of 100% for his XL edition works, establishing his world auction record of £60,480 in 2021. Woudt has published 10 photobooks to date, most notably his 2021 monograph Rhythm, featuring 11 images in the exhibition. In 2022, his first solo museum show Twist was held at Museum Kranenburgh in Bergen, including Eclipse and Tinotenda III offered here. In the same year, the J. Paul Getty Museum acquired another print of Cycle II for their permanent collection.
(Text by PHILLIPS)
“«My inspiration comes from many forms of art, but in particular, the old masters of photography like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Man Ray, Bill Brandt, all amazing minds. They nailed what it takes to make an interesting image: Dynamics, movement, imperfection, feeling. Besides photography, there are many more ways I get inspired. Paintings, the way the Dutch masters saw the light is extraordinary. I believe that in art photography, you have to create a little dream world: a unique insight into the photographer’s mind. Black and white help to differentiate from reality. I find that color is too distracting.»
Bastiaan Woudt”