“The documentary power of photography is undeniable, but for me as an artist, the magic lies in its potential to transcend reality.”
Sander Vos is a London-based photographer whose captivating imagery invites viewers deep into his imagination.
When you first set eyes on Sander’s work, it might be easy to assume you were looking at pieces by a surrealist great or a modernist icon from the interwar period, rather than that of a contemporary artist a century later.
Yet, though the Dutch artist’s work undoubtedly bears the influence of these luminaries, his style is very much his own.
Sander harbored an interest in art and design for ‘as long as he could remember’. During his youth, he drew endless fictional cities and geometric compositions. He dreamed of becoming an influential architect or designer, inspired by the work of Escher, the Bauhaus, and the Avant-Garde, which still bears a mark on his work today.
He naturally had an interest in photography but initially worked as an art director, but like many before him, it was travel that galvaznied his passion, the camera in hand, giving him a new perspective on the world around him.
However, as much as he enjoyed the intuitive nature of street photography, he quickly realized that he ‘didn’t want his creative output to be purely dependent on chance encounters’, and so began to experiment with a more controlled style, one that truly emerged during Covid, the isolation allowing more time for experimentation.
“I started to get creative with the use of props and image manipulation. This is when gradually the first hints of a distinctive style started to emerge. A style that incorporated elements of my design background into the photography work.”
The surrealist element to his work is palpable, particularly in his various fine art series. His creative use of light, texture, and layering engenders intriguing compositions that stir the imagination and evoke the work of greats like Man Ray or Curtis Moffat.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the surreal and possessed a curiosity about the nature of reality. For me, the most fascinating things in life are often the things that we do not know or have yet to discover. Whether it’s in a spiritual or scientific sense. The same applies to visual storytelling as well, I don’t think of photography as a passive medium, the intrigue comes from the gaps that the viewer has to fill in with their imagination. These are the pieces of the puzzle that create the engagement and participation. It turns the viewer into a co-creator.”
His use of layering is key to his unique style. His approach, was developed from extensive experimentation, and involved both digital and physical techniques, merging various elements together into a ‘coherent whole’.
Although pre-planning is key, he always leaves space for intuition, finding the best results when the two approaches combine with perfect balance, creating wonderfully absorbing imagery that, while demonstrating an eye for light and form reminiscent of modernist greats like Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, and other members of the influential Group f.64, transports viewers to an entirely different realm.
“The documentary power of photography is undeniable, but for me as an artist, the magic lies in its potential to transcend reality. Capturing the world exactly as the camera sees it feels limiting. Instead, I’m drawn to using photography as a tool to build new worlds that are shaped by my imagination and vision.”
A vision that, for the author at least, is truly captivating.
All images © Sander Vos