Dirk Liviau
Quote
My images are meant to be looked at, the longer one looks, the better.
Skill
Photography, lighting, knowledge of Photoshop, ON1, Efex, Luminar
Residence
Europa, België, Kluisbergen
Bio
Dirk Liviau (b. 1962) from Kluisbergen, Belgium, received his training in photography and digital editing from DIART (Waregem) and Kordial (Kortrijk).
After a successful career as a competition photographer, awarded the title of "Master for Life," the "World Cup of Digital Images" (2013), and prizes from Fiap (International Federation of Photographic Art) and the "Photographic Society of America," he took a hiatus to explore new horizons in the world of photography.
At the photography festival in Arles, he met Moldavian photo artist Kamil Vojnar (Saint Remi), and a new world opened up for him.
Since then, Liviau has dedicated himself to assembling photos. His surrealistic works, exclusively composed of photographed elements, are given a new dimension in the form of digital collages.
A recurring feature of these 'Dreamscapes,' as Dirk calls them, are the textures (wet or dry concrete, old varnish, cracks in walls, ...) that add an aging process to the image.
Selections from Dreamscapes have been presented in Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Romania, South Africa, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Then came… Corona! In this period, Dirk shifted gears and wholly immersed himself in abstracting his digital photos. This led to "RITMO," a series of 12 creations where movement, color, line work, contrast, and rhythm are key. Here, non-figurative photography is given an upgrade and becomes design.
After this Covid period, this Kluisbergen native sought new challenges. He found them in boudoir photography and editing his shots.
The results were compiled into the series “Corpus Femina.” These are based on Italian and Egyptian frescoes that depict the vulnerability and grace of the female body in subtle color shades
and create a romantic atmosphere.
Currently, Dirk is returning to the basics, photographing in black and white and preferring to use as little light as possible. This series of bodyscapes is still under development.
Influences
Dreamscapes: Influenced by Kamil Vojnar, Bruegel, Van Gogh, Dali, Magritte. Corpus Femina: Inspired by Egyptian and Italian frescoes, Marc Lagrange. RITMO: Emphasizes color, contrast, movement, play of lines.
Work by Dirk Liviau
Are characterized by their exploration of the photographic medium beyond its conventional boundaries. His creations push the boundaries between photography and painting, employing digital techniques to layer, blend, and manipulate images. The 'RITMO' series stands out with its dynamic play of movement, color, line work, contrast, and rhythm. Meanwhile, his 'Dreamscapes' series often incorporates textures that suggest an aging effect. Whether abstracting photos or delving into boudoir photography, Liviau seeks to innovate continuously and challenge his own creative approach.
