A hundred fresh eyes make for an awe-inspiring collection; naked breasts and bodies collide with dead animals or furniture, while ghostly black and white portraits neighbourly accompany imposing land- and cityscapes. Four photos per artist is just the right amount, and it’s a wonderful idea not to sort the book thematically; the variety doesn’t jar, it delights and refreshes, like a plateful of hors d’oeuvres at a good party.

New Dutch Photography Talent is like a menu: its minimalistic text promises more delicacies to come. Simply covering the artists’ names, birthdates and places of study, it gracefully bestows all the honor upon their novelty and youth. Yet it’s also a shame not to get a caption or short introduction, especially on the more intriguing or exotic series (like… what is this baby hippo doing there?) However, and I assume it was the editors’ goal, it also focuses our attention on the most important : reveling in the visuals, which never need explanation to be striking. It’s also a discovery motivator, thanks to the links to the photographers’ websites. 

It’s hard to pick a favorite, as each of the up and coming artists featured in the book possesses his or her own arresting talent; some have pinpointed a concept while others simply brilliantly catch life, incisively – with wit, or with poetry. There is an eye for all tastes; the surreal, the political, the purely esthetic; and while being a fan of each and every one of them is impossible, they were obviously selected for their incredible potential. What they also all have in common is a knack for lighting up our curiosity; to explore further what they have done so far, and wait impatiently for what they will do next.

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Retail price: €24,95 (20% discount for GUP subscribers)
Available at selected bookstores
Distribution: worldwide
Print run: 2.500
Size: 166 × 225 mm
Publisher: x publishers (x-publishers.com)
Image editorial office: GUP Magazine
ISBN: 978-90-818928-0-3

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