Elisa Maenhout is a Belgian documentary photographer born in 1997 and graduated as a master in photography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in her hometown, Ghent. Currently, she is working as a photographer for Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant.
Elisa's work focuses on people and how they deal with the world around them. She specialized in underwater photography during the making of her work ‘A depth most would drown in’. The project is about people who identify themselves with mermaids or mermen. The project was published as a book in 2021 and exhibited in various places. While playing with the invisible line between fiction and reality, she starts questioning the medium of photography.
Elisa believes that documentary photography entails more than simply depicting the outside world; it is a creative process that approaches reality.
Education
2018 – 2020 Master of photography - Visual Arts, KASK - Royal Academy of Fine Arts
2015 – 2018 Bachelor of photography - Visual Arts, KASK - Royal Academy of Fine Arts
Work Experience
Current Freelance photographer
Current Internship at Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant
2018 - Internship in Vietnam with IFSBH and ChildHelp
Published book
26/10/2021 - A depth most would drown in, MER. Books / Borgerhoff & Lamberigts
Solo exhibitions and showcases
2022 - 2023 - Concertgebouw, A depth most would drown in, Brugge, BE.
2021 - Cultureel Centrum Scharpoord, A depth most would drown in, Knokke, BE.
2021 - Galerie Satellite, A depth most would drown in, Liege, BE.
2021 - Global Billboard Project, New York City: Elisa Maenhout, NYC, USA.
2020 - Kolder Artspace, noshowshow: Elisa Maenhout, Ghent, BE.
Group exhibitions
2022 - Duivelsteen, Ghent BE.
2022 - Rotterdam Photo, Single Image, Rotterdam, NL.
2021 - Blanco, Art for Christmas, Ghent, BE.
2021 - Noorderlicht Internationaal Fotofestival - Museum Herenveen, The Makeable Mind, Herenveen, NL.
2021 - Fotobiënnale Oostende, Oud Stedelijk Zwembad, Oostende, BE.
2021 - Art Route PASS, Kunstindorpen, Wannegem, BE.
2021 - PhotoTwens - Romaanse Kapel, Unexposed, Leuven, BE.
2021 - Laurent Gallery - The Printswap Exhibition, Melbourne, AUS.
2021 - Antwerp Artweekend, Subbacultcha’s Community Exhibition, Antwerpen, BE.
2021 - BREEDBEELD - Permeke Bibliotheek, Opus One, Antwerp, BE.
2020 - KASK, GRADUATION Show, Ghent, BE.
2020 - Noorderlicht Internationaal Fotofestival - Museum Belvedere, Generation Z: Single Image, Herenveen, NL.
2020 - Zwarte Zaal KASK, Looking For Serendipity, Ghent, BE.
2020
2019 - Museum Dr. Guislain, Onderbelicht, Gent, BE.
2019 - Herberg Macharius, Zeemeerminnen festival, Ghent, BE.
2018 - Yügen, De Morgen Graduation Show: GrandJam, Ghent, BE.
2018 - Yügen, Graduation Show: File Not Found, Ghent, Belgium
Publications
2022 - BE. Snoecks 2022, Met een vissenstaat het diepe in
2021 - BE. Het Nieuwsblad, Als een vis in het water
2021 - BE. Het Laatste Nieuws, Ariel bestaat écht
2021 - BE. De Gentenaar, Zeemeerminnen bestaan écht
2021 - NL. Leewarder courant, UFO’s soldaten en zeemeerminnen
2021 - NL. De Volkskrant, Even helemaal ondergedompeld
2021 - BE. De Morgen Magazine: Ariël achterna: als zeemeermin kan ik pas echt mezelf zijn + cover
2021 - BE. Het Laatste Nieuws: Foto van Gentse Elisa (23) hangt binnenkort op reclamebord pal in modebuurt van New York - link
2021 - BE. Opus One ‘20 Photobook, A depth most would drown in + cover
2018 - BE. De Standaard Magazine: Stille doders
2018 - BE. Child Help Belgium Jaarrapport
2018 - BE. De Morgen: Van zeemeermin tot zeemeerman
Online publications
2022 - Fotokot Magazine: ‘A depth most would drown’ in op de boekenplank
2021 - VRT NWS: Gentse fotografe reist wereld rond en maakt fotoboek van ‘zeemeermensen’
2021 - Radio 2: Foto van Gentse studente te zien op reclamebord in New York - link
2021 - AVS: Werk van Gentse fotografe binnenkort op billboard in New York - link
2021 - VRT NWS: Onderwaterfoto Gentse studente op gigantisch reclamebord in populaire buurt New York - link
2021 - Phototgraphic Museum of Humanity: Her mind swims at a depth most would drown in - link
Press
2021 - AVS: Studio Tv-interview
2021 - WTV Alles Goed: Tv-interview
2021 - MNM Peter Vandeveire Ochtendshow: Radio-interview
2021 - Radio 2: Foto van Gentse studente te zien op reclamebord in New York
2021 - Video-interview AVS: Werk van Gentse fotografe binnenkort op billboard in New York
Awards
2021 - Shortlisted Belfast Photo Festival
2020 - Winner SONY Award, KASK Master in Photography
2020 - Silver badge, WPE Awards
Others
2021 - Book launch, CC Scharpoord, Knokke, Belgium
2021 - Kunsthal, Buy Local, Ghent, BE.
2020 - Kunsthal, Buy Local, Ghent, BE.
