Eli Dijkers

For the exhibition in the Kunsthal I was looking for the best possible paper with a Dutch master printer. Ilford GALERIE Prestige Smooth Pearl turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. It rendered the images beautifully with a soft satin feel. The amazing thing about this paper is that it almost looks as if the light comes from behind the paper.

Eli Dijkers (1978) – originally a hospital pharmacist – graduated the Academy of Photography (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) in 2012. Eli participated in masterclasses by Michael Ackerman and Jacob Aue Sobol, whom importantly inspired and empowered his work. Eli’s photography is intuitive, raw, yet very connected to people. Eli himself about his work: ‘My goal is to move people, like a piece of music. My images appeal to sensory perception rather than to that of the mind. By using black and white, contrast or grain, a parallel world is being created. An abstract. A world in which light and darkness are allowed to exist side by side.’

Eli’s series ‘Chinese Journey’ is exhibited in the Kunsthal Rotterdam, one of the leading museums on contemporary art in the Netherlands, till end of August 2018. Over the years his work has been exhibited widely and received multiple awards. Recent honors include: commended Sony World Photography Awards, multiple GALA, Monochrome and B&W Spider awards over the last years. In 2017 he received the Porta Coeli Artist Residency Award during the 11^th edition of the International Contemporary Art Biennale in Florence. Eli his work is represented by Gallery Deelen Art in The Netherlands.

Pauline Vermare, associate curator at the International Center of Photography New York: ‘Eli’s portfolio is a stunning ensemble of eclectic but cohesive photographs. Technically, visually and psychologically, his series bring a lot to the viewer. The photographs are powerful and do not need any subtext to read them. A brilliant catharsis, a dark but enjoyable trip…’