Roel Burgler

1947, Netherlands Antilles. After finishing my studies in political and social sciences, aquiring a Phd, and a few years teaching at university I chose to pursue a career as freelance fotographer/ jourrnalist, specialising in social documentary photography in and of developing countries (see f.i. ). I have made radio programs, and also done consultancy work, lecturing, given photography courses, and even worked as a travel guide.

As a counterbalance I do autonomous photography. Nearly all my fine art work falls under my body- and mindscapes project. Taking the female nude as starting point I try to research what is photographically possible, with relatively simple means. This project has yielded everything from aesthetic, pure and simple pictures, to deeply traumatic psychological expressions, from the comical to the abstract, to landscapes, kosmic and under-water pictures

My aim, with my autonomous art, is to inspire the viewers to decide for themselves what they see. It's their associations and feelings regarding my art that are important. The viewer should not, in my opinion, be a passive consumer, but take responsibility for deciding meaning and impact. The less a viewer knows about the work, the more the viewer will have t...

Economics, Political and Social sciences, Ma, PhD, various specialised courses in photography, as well as teaching qualifications for humanities, economics, social studies and humanism

Numerous group and solo exibitions, amongst others Aids in Africa, Traditional healers, Dani cremation, Vocational training (Guinea Bissua, Zimbabwe), and Globalisation (tradtional archery in Bhutan and Zeeland (a province in the Netherlands). I also made a photo book on the same subject and a museum exposition including artifacts. As for my autonomous work I have participated in group exibitions as part of the Nooderlicht photo festival, the Art festival Eindhoven, the European Art Fair Amsterdam, the National Art Fair Nieuwegein, ADAF (2x), as wel as having had exibitions in Leiden, Castricum and Amsterdam, a.o.