About
Originally from the Netherlands, Tanja moved to Tokyo in 2004 and has not left Asia ever since. She reinvented herself as a photographer, a medium she dabbled in as a Liberal Arts student in Amsterdam back in the 1990s
Apart from taking photos of Tokyo’s gritty urban setting, she is very interested in the distinct cultural aspects of Japan’s Society and she collaborates with journalists in Japan to address social issues and current affairs. Her work has been published in articles for Vice, Tempuramag, NRC, Trouw and Humo.
In March 2020 when Covid stopped everyone in its tracks, Tanja started to make analog Collages from magazines, books and washi paper that she has collected throughout the years. The process of slicing, cutting and glueing is a very enjoyable form of creating and recycling because nothing goes to waste! It’s a satisfying outlet to make sense of the cultural differences that Tanja is experiencing around her.
Tanja has had exhibitions at Gallery Place M, Tennozu Photo Festival, Harajuku Design Festa, Tokyo American Club and Tokyo International Art Fair for both her Photography and her Collages.
Throughout the years she has been a participant at photography workshops with Moises Saman (Magnum) David Alan Harvey (6 months mentorship), Thomas Dvorzak (Magnum), Ed Kashi (Vii), Ashley Gilbertson (Vii), Greg Girard, at ICP (New York & online) and the Fotoacademie Amsterdam (online)