PHOTOGRAPHER ANNELIE VANDENDAEL
Vandendael
Annelie Vandendael
Mallorca · Studio
Annelie Vandendael was born in Belgium in 1987 and grew up in the South of France. She studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent and was later invited to La Fabrica, the Benetton Communication and Research Center in Treviso. She now lives in Mallorca, which she describes as having "just the perfect light." Her ongoing project Sois Belle explores the female form not as object but as an integral part of nature.
In her latest work, Annelie explores the space between reality and illusion through saturated colour, surreal compositions, and cinematic storytelling. Inspired by the elegance and visual language of the 1960s, her photographs place the female form in conversation with vast landscapes, unexpected props, and moments of quiet transformation. Bodies merge with nature, humour coexists with mystery, and each image invites viewers into a world that feels both untethered and strangely familiar.
Annelie Vandendael Travelling. Nature. Nice colours. I love the 60s, it has been a great inspiration for me. The female body, its form inspires me and is the central subject in my work. Films, for example the movies of Almodovar because of his sensibility and imagery. Jacques Tati for his playfulness, the painter Edward Hopper for his magical compositions. Magritte for his mysterious work, the photographer Guy Bourdin for his colours, Slim Aarons for his great vibes and sets.
Annelie Vandendael I've been working on my personal project Sois Belle for a few years now. It was actually my master's degree project and I never stopped working on it. It feels like a little baby that I have to raise. I mostly travel with friends, select a place or a country that inspires us at that moment, and then we set out on a road trip with the high hopes of finding a magical spot. I'm looking forward to the summer light and to have my friends close to me in this absolutely perfect place so we can create new images.
Sois Belle · Ongoing project
© Annelie Vandendael · All rights reserved
"Art should give you the possibility to travel into the fantasy world of the artist. For me that is really the essence of art."
Annelie Vandendael For me it hasn't been too bad that everything had to slow down a bit. The pandemic has forced us to rethink, to learn to live in another way: slower, more time at home to think, more time to create and more time to search in which direction we want to go with our lives and work. Hence we learn to enjoy small things, which I think is very important. We are not rushing in this society circle where creativity is getting lost.
Annelie Vandendael I think sometimes we call something art too soon. Very often I'm missing emotion, sensibility, that little thing that makes it art. Art should give you the possibility to travel into the fantasy world of the artist. For me that is really the essence of art.
