Jan Von Holleben
Encyclopedia
Jan von Holleben is a German photographer.
and brought up in the southern German countryside, he lived most of his youth in an alternative commune and identifies a strong connection between the development of his photographic work and the influence of his parents, a cinematographer
and child therapist. At the age of 13, he followed his father’s photographic career by picking up a camera and experimenting with all sorts of "magical tricks", developing his photographic imagination and skills with friends and family and later honing his technique in commercial settings.
After pursuing studies in teaching children with disabilities at the Pädagogische Hochschule in Freiburg
, he moved to London
, earned a degree in the Theory and History of Photography at Surrey Institute of Art and Design, and became submerged within the London photographic scene, where he worked as picture editor
, art director
and photographic director. He quickly set up two photographic collectives, Young Photographers United and photodebut, followed more recently by the Photographer’s Office. His body of photographic work focusing on the ‘homo ludens’ – the man who learns through play, is itself built from a playful integration of pedagogical theory with his own personal experiences of play and memories of childhood.
Jan von Holleben’s work has been exhibited internationally and published widely throughout the world.
, Art Review, Bant, Brigitte, Dumbo Feather, DPI, GeoLino, IDN, Irish Times, Label, Liberation, Max, Next Level, Ojodepez, Photo Review, Photography, Repubblica, Rojo, Style 100, The Face, The Sunday Review, Sleazenation, SZ-Magazin, Vice
, Vogue Girl
2008
2007
2006
2009
2008
2007
2006
2004
1998
Biography
Born in 1977 in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and brought up in the southern German countryside, he lived most of his youth in an alternative commune and identifies a strong connection between the development of his photographic work and the influence of his parents, a cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
and child therapist. At the age of 13, he followed his father’s photographic career by picking up a camera and experimenting with all sorts of "magical tricks", developing his photographic imagination and skills with friends and family and later honing his technique in commercial settings.
After pursuing studies in teaching children with disabilities at the Pädagogische Hochschule in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, earned a degree in the Theory and History of Photography at Surrey Institute of Art and Design, and became submerged within the London photographic scene, where he worked as picture editor
Picture Editor
A picture editor, sometimes known as a photo editor, is a professional who collects, reviews, and chooses photographs and/or illustrations for publication in alignment with preset guidelines. Publications include, but are not limited to, websites, books, magazines, newspapers, art galleries, museum...
, art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
and photographic director. He quickly set up two photographic collectives, Young Photographers United and photodebut, followed more recently by the Photographer’s Office. His body of photographic work focusing on the ‘homo ludens’ – the man who learns through play, is itself built from a playful integration of pedagogical theory with his own personal experiences of play and memories of childhood.
Jan von Holleben’s work has been exhibited internationally and published widely throughout the world.
Education
- 2000–2002 BA (Hons) Photography (Theory and History) – SIAD University, Farnham
- 1999–2000 Studies in Teaching Children with Disabilities – Pädagogische Hochschule, Freiburg
- 1997–2000 Photographic Apprentice – Prisma Productions, Freiburg
- 1997 Baccalaureate Diploma (A-Levels) – MSG, Breisach
Publications
Die Zeit, Spiegel Wissen, Chrismon, Neon, Creative Review, Dazed& Confused, Diva, Day 4, Dummy, Emotion, Geo, Geolino, Zeit Magazin, Zeit Campus, AdbustersAdBusters
The Adbusters Media Foundation is a Canadian-based not-for-profit, anti-consumerist, pro-environment organization founded in 1989 by Kalle Lasn and Bill Schmalz in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, Art Review, Bant, Brigitte, Dumbo Feather, DPI, GeoLino, IDN, Irish Times, Label, Liberation, Max, Next Level, Ojodepez, Photo Review, Photography, Repubblica, Rojo, Style 100, The Face, The Sunday Review, Sleazenation, SZ-Magazin, Vice
Vice (magazine)
VICE is a free magazine and media conglomerate founded in Montreal, Quebec and currently based in New York City.Vice is available in 27 countries...
, Vogue Girl
Published books
2009- Mutatis Mutandis, The Photographer’s Office, London
- Dreams of Flying vol.2, The Photographer’s Office, London
2008
- Träume vom Fliegen, Hoffmann & Campe, Hamburg
- The Snowbed, The Photographer’s Office, London
2007
- 11-21, The Photographer’s Office, London
- 1585 Deutsche Börse + Xchange, Corps, Düsseldorf
2006
- Dreams of Flying, The Photographer’s Office, London
Awards
2010- Lens CultureLens CultureLens Culture is a subscription-free, online magazine of international contemporary photography, inclusive of all genres of photography. The magazine contains photo book reviews, essays, analysis and criticism about contemporary photography and culture...
Award – Honorable Mention / San Francisco
2009
- Aesthetica Award – Runner up / London
- Unicum Award – Best Ad / Bochum
- Lead Award – Auszeichnung / Hamburg
2008
- Backlight Artist’s Residency, Finland
- Bronze – Idn + graniph Universe Award / Tokyo
- Nomination – Joop Swart Master Class, Amsterdam
2007
- Florence Biennale Award for Photography / Florence
- Photographery Masters Cup/ London-Beverly Hills
- PHE07 Best Photography Books of 2007 for ‘Dreams of Flying’/ Madrid
- Gold – PX3 Photography Award / Paris
- Gold – Best CP Award / Munich
- Finalist – Cedefop Award / Thessaloniki
- Gold – Art for Aid Award / Amsterdam
2006
- International Photography Award / Los Angeles
- Pilsner Urquell Ambassador for German Photography / Cologne
- Young Portfolio Award / Kiyosato
- Free Range Photographic Ambassador / London
- Magenta Award / Toronto
- Honours – Hyeres Festivale de la Photographie / Hyeres
- Gold – Lead Award / Hamburg
- Festimage / Chaves Photoreview Award / Langhorne
2004
- Audi / Next Level Photographic Award / London
- London Photographic Award / London
- The Observer Hodge Photographic Award / London
- International Photography Award / Los Angeles
1998
- FotoSalon Preis / Kirchzarten