about

In my work I am interested in the mix between reality and surreality partnered with the depth of human emotions.

BIOGRAPHY VANESSA van Houten

Vanessa was born in San Rafael, California in 1971 to an American PAN AM pilot and a free-thinking German and spent her early childhood in the Bahamas and Berlin. Then after the divorce of her parents, she gained a beloved Japanese stepmom and her youth was divided between the small town Augsburg, in Germany and San Francisco. After completing a Bachelor of Photography at the Polytechnic University in Dortmund, Germany she relocated to New York City to study with Jonas Mekas at the Anthology Film Archives. In 2007 she completed a Master's of Filmmaking at The Film Academy (HFF) in Munich, Germany. RAW Photography is her first book. Her other photography series, the which were shown at exhibitions include PAPERFOLD (2012), TABOO (2010), REMEMBERING WHATS LOST (2009). As a director she realized various award-winning movies, the which are PAPER BIRD (2007), KARMA COWBOY (2001), MONA (1998), NEW YORK IMAGES (1996), ALPS (1995) and GROWING SILENTLY (1994) - they have been shown on German TV and screened at international movie festivals. 

Vanessa currently lives with her husband Daniel and three children Peppa, Ziggy and Sonny in Jakarta, Indonesia.

 

All images copyright

photo by Thekla Ehling

photo by Thekla Ehling