Born 1978, Velsen, The Netherlands. Lives and works in Amsterdam.
Popel Coumou constructs artworks using layers of paper that are positioned over and alongside each other. The visual effect is graphic and playful. The simplest physical constructions – handmade collages – are transformed into intriguing, dreamlike images that compel the viewer to question what they see. Using only paper and light, Popel creates a sense of being suspended in space and time.
The layers out of which she builds her latest interiors are photographs of skies. These cause natural colour gradients and create an illusion of depth, while the texture in the paper itself is clearly visible. These paper shapes transform into three-dimensional spaces. Popel explores the way our minds work; how little information we need in order to fill in the blanks and create our own realities.
Exhibitions
2020
Fotomuseum Den Haag "Papier en Licht" (November)
TORCH Gallery "A Paper Perspective" (November)
Art Rotterdam (TORCH Gallery, February)
2019
Fotomuseum Den Haag “De soep van Daguerre” (group)
Collectie DE GROEN, Arnhem “Pick me” (14/09/19 – 22/12/19)
2018
KadS (Kunst aan de schinker) Art in public space; “When notion of time disappears”.
Photograph for an advertisement collumn.
Work for the showroom op David Lloyd
Art Fairs: Haute Photographie (TORCH Gallery)
2017
TORCH Gallery (solo) (April-May)
Zandvoorts Museum “Van Mondriaan tot Dutch Design”
Art Fairs: Volta 13 Basel (LMAK Gallery NY)
2016
LMAK Gallery New York, USA (solo)
Dubai Photo Exhibition. Dutch/Belgium Pavillion. Curated by Els Barents.
Museum het Valkhof, Nijmegen “Photography Extended”
Cultuurcentrum Mechelen, Belgium
witteveen Visual Art Centre “Ritme en Regelmaat, 70 jaar abstractie in de kunst, 1956 – 2015”
Dapiran Art project space, Utrecht (duo)
Art Fairs: Unseen Amsterdam (Torch Gallery)
2015
TORCH Gallery (solo)
Art Fairs: Art Rotterdam, Unseen Amsterdam (TORCH Gallery), Seatlle Art Fair (LMAKgallery), Art Miami (solo presentation with LMAKgallery).
2014
LMAKprojects, New York, US (solo)
Huis Marseille Amsterdam
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag “Fotoverhalen”
AMC/Brummelkamp Gallery (Amsterdam Medical Centre) (solo)
Fairs: Pulse Miami, Art Rotterdam (TORCH Gallery)
2013
Huis Marseille, Amsterdam, “The rediscovery of the world”
Fairs: Art at the warehouse with Foam editions, Object Art with: we like art walls
2012
TORCH Gallery (solo show + book publication)
Huis Marseille, Amsterdam “Viewpoint. A closer look at showing”
Foam Magazine Talent exhibition, Amsterdam
Fairs: Unseen Amsterdam, Tokyo photo, Art Rotterdam (TORCH gallery)
2011
Aando Fine Art, Berlin, Germany
Art Rotterdam, Art Amsterdam, Pulse Miami, Tokyo photo (TORCH Gallery)
Seelevel Amsterdam
TORCH Gallery, Amsterdam
De rietlanden, Amsterdam
2010
TORCH Gallery, Amsterdam (double solo)
Huis Marseille, Museum voor Fotografie, Amsterdam
Amsterdam Centrum voor Fotografie (ACF)
Galerie 37, Spaarnestad, Haarlem (double solo)
Galerie 48, Breda
Fairs: Art Rotterdam, Art Antique Utrecht (TORCH Gallery)
2009
Seoul Art Center, S. Korea
Villa Nouailles, Hyeres, France
Kunstanlab, Deventer
Seelevel, Amsterdam
ACF (Amsterdam Centre of photography)
2008
Gallerie Maurits van de Laar (solo)
ACF (Amsterdam Centre of photography)
Arti et Amicitiae “Het gonst in Arti” (as exhibitor and curator)
Foam “Expanding the city”
Villa nouailles, Hyeres, France (solo)
Platform21, Amsterdam
2007
Galerie Dubbelbee, Amsterdam (double solo show)
Galerie Pont en Plas, Gent, Belgium (solo)
Villa Nouailles, Hyeres, France
2006
Maatschappij Arti et Amicitiae Amsterdam
ACF (Amsterdam Centre for Photography) (double solo show)
Galerie 32/34 / SBK Osdorp (solo)
Saudades, Museum het Domein Sittard
Gallery Cokkie Snoei, Roterdam (double solo show)
Goudslicht, Gouda
2005
Gallery Maurits van de Laar in The Hague
Foam (photomuseum Amsterdam) (solo)
Art Fairs: Art Rotterdam (Galerie van Zoetendaal), Kunst Rai on the oportunity of the nomination for the Thieme Kunst Rai price
2004
ACF (Amsterdam Centre for Photography)
Shell Amsterdam, Shell Young Art Awards 2004
Collections:
Museum Het Domein in Sittard
Gemeente Museum Den Haag
Foam (Photography Museum Amsterdam)
Huis Marseille Amsterdam (Museum for Photography)
VUmc (Medical centre Amsterdam)
AMC (Medical Centre Amsterdam)
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
Bouwfonds Nederlandse Gemeenten
Statoil
Dela
MediaMath (New York en Londen)
Various Art Libraries
Private collectors in and outside Europe (among others the Rothschilds)
