Ana Galan reviews the portrait formula that emerged in Italy towards the end of the 15th century, whose origins can be traced to the work of Jan Van Eyck, which associated, in painting, busts with landscapes.
People are reduced to busts or three quarters, substituting through synthesis, the whole for the part. Realistic portraits that do not aim to idealize the subjects’ features; they are fragments of an essence. The figures are placed in a raised position before a wide and idealized landscape.
A point of view and a single location. A part of the whole. An impression. A small fragment of the essence.
Windows, and at the same time, mirrors. Conflict between introspection and the projection of the subject inherent to portraiture. Transparency or reflection?
Biography
Born in Madrid in 1969, Ana Galan holds a degree in Economics, an International MBA from ESCP, a degree in Developmental Behavioural Modelling and an MFA in Photography from EFTI, attending workshops with Pierre Gonnord, Peter Bialobrzeski, Lynne Cohen or Alejandro Castellote.
Ana Galan was finalist in The Print Center’s 86th Annual Competition, in Descubrimientos PHotoEspaña 2010, 2011 and 2014, in Encontros da Imagem 2010 through 2014, at CENTER on 2011 and at The Center for Fine Art Photography Portraits exhibition in 2011 and 2012. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries, photography festivals and exhibitions in France, Italy, India, Portugal, Spain, Finland, the Philippines, Myanmar, Israel and USA.
She has completed artist residencies in the USA, in Finland and in the Philippines. Her art is collected in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) in Paris, in the gallery Le Château d’Eau in Toulouse, in CENTER in Santa Fe and in The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, in the USA.
She has worked as marketing director for several enterprises and magazines in Madrid and is currently working as translator from French and English to Spanish, specialising in 19th century texts related to the early history of photography, and art.
Exhibitions
2021-2023
« Photomenta_1. Photography from the Mediterranean ». Muza Eretz Israel Museum, Tel-Aviv (Israel), 22 September 2021-22 September 2023
2015
« In the Quest for Utopia ». Centre Cívic Pati Llimona, Barcelona (Spain). 19 November-14 December
« 37e Estivales Photographiques du Trégor ». L’Imagerie, Lannion (France). 27 June -3 October
« La realidad en el horizonte ». Changjiang International Photography & Video Biennale, Chongqing (China). Catalogue. April-May
« Out of my territory ». A Window in Berlin, Berlín (Germany). May
« She loves me, she loves me not », Hôtel Fontfreyde, Clermont-Ferrand (France). 27 February-30 May
« Portraits », The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado (USA). 17 January-21 February
2014
« An Ocean of Possibilities ». Singapore International Photography Festival, Singapur. November-December
« An Ocean of Possibilities ». Noorderlicht Photography Festival, Leeuwarden (The Netherlands). September-October
« Gente de…otra forma de mirar », National Museum of Anthropology, Madrid (Spain). June-July
PHotoEspaña 2014: «Indefinite frontiers». Projection. Fundación Telefónica, Madrid (Spain). June
Festival Tarrazona-Foto, Zaragoza (Spain), June
Art Photo Bcn, Festival y Feria de Fotografía Emergente en Barcelona. May
Pa-ta-ta Festival Internacional de Fotografía. Itinerary Street Furniture, Granada (Spain), May
« Metta », Yangon Photo Festival, Yangon (Myanmar), February
« Un peu, beaucoup… la vie ! », Château d’Eau, Toulouse (France), January-March
Fundación Mapfre Guanarteme, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas (Spain), January-March. Catalogue.
« Box of dummies », Photobook Clubs. Selection. Itinerant exhibition, all year round
2013
Books that are photos, photos that are books. Edificio Nouvel, Centro de documentación y Biblioteca, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid (Spain). December 2013- September 2014
Grand Prix de la Découverte, 2013 International Fine Art Photography Competition Finalists, Le Salon de la Photo, Paris (France), November. Catalogue
« #biblioMobile », L’Ancienne Imprimarie/Picture Tank, Le PhotobookFest, Paris Photo 2013, Paris (France). Nov
« Rock Your Dummy Photo Book Show », Le PhotobookFest, Paris Photo 2013, Paris (France). November
« Atlántica Colectivas », FotoNoviembre International Photography Biennale 2013, Fundación Mapfre Guanarteme, La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain), November. Catalogue.
« She loves me, she loves me not », Festival Encontros da Imagem. Mosteiro de Tibães, Braga (Portugal), September
Cosecha 2013. Exhibition of photobook dummies, Ivorypress, Madrid Spain). September
Entrefotos. Presentation of the photobook dummy. Matadero, Madrid (Spain). September
Premio Combat Prize 2013. Museo Civico Giovanni Fattori, Livorno (Italy). June-July
“Spectacle in Photography”, Actual colors may vary & AM projects, Crescent Arts Centre, Projection, International Belfast Photo Festival, Belfast (Ireland). June
Pa-ta-ta Festival Internacional de Fotografía, Projection/debate, Granada (Spain), May
« La Noche de los Libros », Presentation of photobooks to Michael Mack, Bertien van Manen and Antonio Xoubanova. Ivorypress, Madrid (Spain). April
« Made in Arles”, Le Magasin de Jouets, Arles (France), March-April
III Tertulias de Cienojos. Projection of work and debate. Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia (MUBAM), Murcia (Spain), March
2012
Grand Prix de la Découverte, 2012 International Fine Art Photography Competition Finalists, NoFound Photo Fair, Paris (France), November. Catalogue
« Finalists of the International Photography Awards Emergentes DST”, Mosteiro de Tibães, Braga (Portugal), September
« In transit », Photaumnales Festival 2012, Beauvais (France). September-November
« Pasión: fotografías en la azotea», Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid (Spain). July-August
1º Premio Internacional de Fotografía Galería Rita Castellote 2012, Galería Rita Castellote, Madrid (Spain). July-August
Photography Open Salon Arles 2012, Screening installation, Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, Arles (France). July
Les Nuits Photographiques, La Galerie du Magasin de Jouets, Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, Arles (France). July
Näkymä 2012 Open Sight Art Exhibition, Akaa (Finland). June-August
Les Nuits Photographiques, Screening, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Paris (France). June
« Common life, images for the community of citizens », Festival Fotografia Europea 012, Reggio Emilia (Italy). May-June
Pa-ta-ta Festival Internacional de Fotografía. Itinerary Street Furniture, Granada (Spain), May
« It’s a thin line between love and hate », United Photo Industries HQ. DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York (USA). February
« Transience », Open Salon Penang Exhibition 2012, China House, George Town, Penang (Malaysia), January-February
« Portraits », The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado (USA), January-February
2011
« Let pain be only a souvenir », II Premio de Arte Grünenthal. Sala Mirador Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid (Spain), November. Catalogue.
« XII CEC Plastic Art International Contest Finalists », Castillo Santa Catalina, Cadiz (Spain). December. Catalogue.
« Other possible titles », Grizzly Grizzly Gallery, Philadelphia (USA), November
« Atlántica Colectivas », FotoNoviembre International Photography Biennale 2011, Tenerife (Spain), November. Catalogue.
Delhi Photo Festival 2011, Delhi (India), October. Catalogue.
« Finalists of the International Photography Awards Emergentes DST”, Mosteiro de Tibães, Braga (Portugal), October
« Curve Awards Exhibition », CENTER, Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA), September-December
« In praise of elderly », Getxophoto International Photography Festival, Getxo (Spain), September. Catalogue.
« Transience », Galerie Huit Open Salon 2011 Exhibition, Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, Arles (France), July-September
« Paris Photo Prize Px3 », Espace Dupon, Paris (France), June-July
« Portraits: a photographic exhibition », PHotoEspaña 2011, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid (Spain), June-July
Premio de Fotografía Digital Santander Creativa-Foconorte, Centro Cultural Doctor Madrazo, Santander (Spain). Projection. June
Pa-ta-ta Festival Internacional de Fotografía, Projection/debate on the social value of photography, Granada (Spain), May
« Arachné », Primo Piano LivinGallery, Lecce (Italy), March
« Subjective: portraits today », Centro de las Artes y Cultura, Alcorcón, Madrid (Spain), March
« We are history because we tell us », Primo Piano LivinGallery, Lecce (Italy), January
2010
« Lauréats du Prix SFR Jeunes Talents Paris Photo 2010 », Espace SFR Jeunes Talents Photo, Paris Photo, Paris (France), November. Catalogue.
« Finalists of the International Photography Awards Emergentes DST”, Mosteiro de Tibães, Braga (Portugal), September
« Masters 09/10 », EFTI, Madrid (Spain), July. Catalogue.
Festival Tarrazona-Foto, Zaragoza (Spain), July
« Crisis », Instituto Puerta Bonita, Madrid (Spain), May. Catalogue.
Awards
2014
PHotoEspaña 2014: Descubrimientos. Madrid (Spain). Finalist. June
Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris. Paris (Francia). 3 Gold Medals. June
Art Photo Bcn, Festival y Feria de Fotografía Emergente en Barcelona. Portfolio Review. Selection. May
Nexofoto, Concurso Iberoamericano de fotografía. Finalist. March
« Box of dummies », Photobook Clubs. Selection. Itinerant exhibition, all year round
2013
Grand Prix de la Découverte, 2013 International Fine Art Photography Competition, Finalist, People/Portraits category, Paris (France), November.
« #biblioMobile », L’Ancienne Imprimarie/Picture Tank, Le PhotobookFest, Paris Photo 2013, Paris (France). Selection. November
« Rock Your Dummy Photo Book Show », Le PhotobookFest, Paris Photo 2013, Paris (France). Selection. November
Encontros da Imagem 2013: Emergents. Braga (Portugal). Finalist. September
International Kontinent Photography Awards, Izmir (Turkey). Finalist. July
Premio Combat Prize 2013, Livorno (Italy). Finalist. June
Paris Photo Prize Px3, Paris (France). Finalist. June
La Macina di San Cresci, Chianti (Italy). Artist-in-residence. March
2012
Grand Prix de la Découverte, 2012 International Fine Art Photography Competition, Honorable Mention, People/Portraits category, Paris (France), November.
Balay Kalamragan IAR program, Leyte (Philippines). Artist-in-residence. November
Encontros da Imagem 2012: Emergents. Braga (Portugal). Finalist. September
International Award Tenimenti D’Alessandro, Cortona on the Move International Photo Festival 2012, Cortona (Italy). Finalist. July
1º Premio Internac. de Fotografía Galería Rita Castellote 2012. Madrid (Spain). Finalist. June
Les Nuits Photographiques, Paris (France). Finalist. June
« 86th Annual International Competition: Photography », The Print Center. (Juror: Jennifer Blessing, Curator of Photography, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York). Philadelphia, PA (USA). Finalist. June
Arteles Creative Center, Hämeenkyrö (Finland). Artist-in-residence. June
Japan Media Arts Festival. Tokyo (Japan). Art Division Jury Recommended Works. February
The Center for Fine Art Photography. Fort Collins, Colorado (USA). Director’s Honorable Mention. January
2011
XII CEC Plastic Art International Contest. Cadiz (Spain). Finalist. November
Bourse du Talent #47 Portrait. Paris (France). Finalist. October
Encontros da Imagem 2011: Emergents. Braga (Portugal). Finalist. October
Paris Photo Prize Px3, Paris (France). Finalist. June
Philadelphia Art Hotel, Philadelphia (USA). Artist-in-residence. June
PHotoEspaña 2011: Descubrimientos. Madrid (Spain). Finalist. June
V Premio de Fotografía Digital Creativa-Foconorte. Santander (Spain). Finalist. June
Fresh Look Portfolio Review. Month of Photography of Los Angeles (MOPLA) (USA). Selection. April
CENTER. 2011 Dealer’s Choice Award (Dianne Vanderlip, Curator, Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles, California (USA)). Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA). Third Place. March
CENTER. 2011 Editor’s Choice Award (Todd James, Senior Photo Editor, National Geographic Magazine). Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA). Honorable Mention. March
2010
SFR Jeunes Talents Photo, Paris Photo 2010. Lauréate. November
Emergents-2010: Pati de La Llotja. Lleida (Spain). Finalist. October
Encontros da Imagem 2010: Emergentes. Braga (Portugal). Finalist. September
PHotoEspaña 2010: Descubrimientos. Madrid (Spain). Finalist. June
Collections
Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF), Paris, France
CENTER, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Le Château d’Eau, Toulouse, France
Philadelphia Art Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Reviews (selected)
2014
Diccionario de Fotógrafos Españoles. Editorial La Fábrica & Acción Cultural Española (http://tienda.lafabrica.com/es/3274-diccionario-de-fotografos-espanoles.html)
2013
2013 Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3) book
2012
2012 International Photography (IPA) book
« Transience », Galerie Huit Open Salon 2011 Exhibition, Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival, Arles (France). Catalogue. September
PHositivo. Official Book of the 2012 Festival Internacional de Fotografía Pa-ta-ta
fanzine 10×15 #29 “I love Baum”. January-February
inédito blog. January
2011
2011 International Photography (IPA) book
burn magazine. July (http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2011/07/ana-galan-vivre-la-vie/)
2011 Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3) book
30y3 blog. March
eldadodelarte blog. March
fanzine 10×15 #24 “I love Dos”. February-March
Photos Nouvelles #67. January-February
2010
Descubrimientos PHotoEspaña 2010. Catalogue. June