Peter Dekens

I'm a documentary photographer with a keen interest in socially sensitive subjects and issues investigated from an alternative perspective.

These projects are part of a broader investigation I’ve been pursuing. In recent years I’ve covered in 'Touch' about the social consequences of blindness; in '(Un)expected' about the coping process of surviving relatives of suicides, and in 'Shaky Ground' about the urgency of the past (First World War) in the perspective of a sustainably united Europe.

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In 2008 I started a 4 year course in documentary photography at St. Joost Art Academy in Breda (the Netherlands).

In 1998 I started my own business, called Bubble (now wiender.com). For years it was considered one of the most creative web design agencies in Belgium.

In 1987 I graduated as a graphic designer at St. Lucas college, Ghent (Belgium) with distinction. Immediately after graduation I started working as an art director for various advertising agencies in Brussels.

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2019

• (Un)expected was selected for 'Photobook Belge', the reference work on Belgian photo books from 1854 to present. A publication and exhibition by FOMU (Photo Museum Antwerp)

2018

• Shaky Ground published by The Eriskay Connection in an edition of 700 copies

2017

• Exhibiting my photo project 'Shaky ground' at 'mixing / Memory and desire'. Together with work of six other photographers (Max Pinckers, Tom Callemin, Sanne De Wilde, Frederik Buyckx, ...) who made an international breakthrough since their debut at BredaPhoto
• About (Un)expected:
• Longlisted for the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2018
  
• Winner at Best Photobook of the Year award at PHotoEspaña (2017)
  
• Silver Medal for the 'Best Book Design from all over the World' 2017 (Stiftung buchkunst)
  
• (Un)expected has been selected for The Best Dutch Book Design 2016
  
• Nomination for Media Prize 2016 Werkgroep Verder - dutch only
• mentioned in 6 'Photobook of the Year'-lists: Martin Amis, Laura El-Tantawy, Awoiska van der Molen, Robin Titchener, Josef Chladek, Yumi Goto

2016

•  (Un)expected published by The Eriskay Connection in an edition of 650 copies

2014

•  Rise nominated for Unseen dummy Award (Amsterdam); Rise is about a
  palliative day care unit

2013

• Touch nominated for Dutch Doc Award 2013 (complete jury report)
  
• Touch exhibited at Tropenmuseum Amsterdam (Netherlands) for Dutch Doc Award, from April 26th until June 9th, 2013, see impression of installation
• Touch nominated at Fotobookfestival Kassel 2013 for best photobook of the previous year

2012

• Graduated at St. Joost Art Academy in Breda (NL) as a documentary photographer, from 2008 - 2012
• Touch published by The Eriskay Connection in an edition of  500 copies
• Touch exhibited at the BredaPhoto international Photo festival that took place for the fifth time in the city center of Breda

2011

• Selected for the Photo Festival at Naarden
  

1998-2014

• Founder of web design agency bubble (www.wiender.com)
  

1988-1998

• Worked as an art director in numerous renowned advertising agencies (TBWA, GV/Company, LHHS, McCann Erickson)

1987

• Graduated as Master in graphic design at St. Lucas college (now LUCA School of Arts), Ghent (Belgium)