
"The camera is my tool of communication.
First it connects,
then it captures."
In my work I create to understand—people, places, the quiet undercurrents of time. My camera is not just a tool but a language, a bridge between seen and unseen, between self and other. I seek to explore the way we humans shape and are shaped in return, revealing the traces we leave behind in the ever-evolving landscapes of the natural world. Like the forest deepens its roots and the tides shift and change, we too are shaped by the rhythms of time.
Through my lens, I seek the wonder we forget as we grow taller, the narratives that are overlooked. My work is a dialogue—between past and present, solitude and belonging. It is a feminist act of looking closer, of revealing, of making space for stories that long to be seen.
Fien van der Spek is a student at the Willem de Kooning Academy, studying for a Bachelor in Photography. Besides that she also studies at the Erasmus University College, where she follows the Cultural Analysis major. She was born and raised in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This dual practice allows her to bridge the gap between academic research and artistic expression. While scholarly work engages the intellect, it often remains inaccessible to a wider audience. Art, on the other hand, speaks in a universal language—imagery transcends barriers. Through her work, she translate complex ideas into visual narratives, making knowledge more tangible and resonant for a broader crowd.
Exhibitions
2021 - Erasmus University Exhibition, Rotterdam
2022 - Maassilo Exhibition, Rotterdam
2022 - Masked Creativity, a collaboration with Fier,
Rotterdam
2023 - Roodkapje, Rotterdam
2024 - Huidenclub, Rotterdam
2024 - Prior, Bristol (UK)
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Publications
2021 - Le Fruit La Journal, London
2021 - The Broken Printer, Rotterdam
2023 - GENERATION Z in Trouw, Amsterdam
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Commissions
2020 - Sunugal, Editorial Photoshoot, Rotterdam
2020/2022 - Erasmus University College
Photographer, Rotterdam
2022 - EDGE Technologies, Amsterdam
2023 - PHI Factory, Amsterdam
2023 - Global Sustainablity Summit, Rotterdam
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