Foto: Andrea Gjestvang
Biography
Andrea Gjestvang was born in 1981 in Hamar, Norway. Lives and works between Oslo and Berlin.
2001 – 2003 Photojournalism studies at OsloMet, Norway.
2006 – 2017 Lived in Berlin and worked the first five years as a permanent contract photographer in German-speaking countries and Eastern Europe for Norway’s largest newspaper.
Between 2018 and 2022 she led a semester seminar on “The Narrative Portrait” at the Hannover University of Applied Science and Arts.
Since 2013 member of Panos Pictures.
Works as a commissioned photographer and realizes free long-term projects, exhibitions and books.
Exhibitions (selection)
Andrea Gjestvang’s work has been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries worldwide, including Les Boutographies (2023, Montpellier), Preus Museum of Photography (2021, Norway), Fotomuseo – National Museum of Photography (2019, Bogotá) and UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (2011 , Beijing). She photographs commissions and publishes her projects in magazines such as National Geographic, The New York Times, M Le Monde and SZ Magazin. Among other things, she has received a working grant for artists in Norway, the VG Bildkunst grant, etc. She has received several awards for her pictures, including the «L’Iris d’Or/Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year 2013».
Publications (selection)
In 2012 Andrea Gjestvang published her first photo book «One Day in History» (Pax), and in 2023 the book «Atlantic Cowboy» (GOST Books). In autumn 2023 a new photo book with Gjestvan’s pictures will be published in cooperation with Mare Verlag.
Andrea Gjestvang
With an intimate photographic gaze, Andrea Gjestvang examines contemporary social issues in the northern hemisphere. Her work is free and moves between different norms and genres. She explores the role of the viewer involved. The concept is in itself an impossibility; the viewer cannot be active at the same time. This contradiction inspires her.In an essay on Andrea Gjestvang’s book “Atlantic Cowboy” the Norwegian writer John Erik Riley writes:«(…) We are always too late for our own history, writes Aleksandar Hemon. These words can be applied to the images in “Atlantic Cowboy”, but also to Gjestvang’s other projects. Through her photographs, she manages to visualize stories that are easily overlooked or about to disappear.She does so with a curiosity and tenderness that seems to emanate from the surface of the picture, whether it is an old man with a little cat or the remains of a sheep slaughter. However, it is the story with a capital G – the long lines of history through culture – that makes the greatest impression and that I will still carry with me when the book comes back on the shelf (…)»
seminar content
(german/english)
This seminar is for photographers who want to develop their visual approach and create personal projects in a wide tradition of documentary photography.
During the seminar, Andrea will guide the students through the process of finding the best visual approach for their projects, how to work in the field, editing the result and finding the right audience for the project.
Andrea will share her own experience, how she works on different projects, and her approach from idea to publishing work, wether it is in some of the world’s most renowned magazines, gallery exhibits or books.
Andrea will also explain how she builds a sustainable career as an independent photographer focusing on personal projects that have a long life both in the editorial world and on the art scene.
The students will work on their own projects during the seminar. Each participant’s process will be reviewed and discussed in depth both in class and in a one-on-one session.
> Andrea will hold the lessons in English, the discussion and photo reviews can take place in German or English on request.
dates seminar (10am-6pm)
2/24/24
3/16/24
4/20/24
5/25/24
6/22/24
