Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ostend Photo Biennial 2025 (Sept 6–Nov 16) features 32 photographers, including Charlotte Abramow, at 20 city locations. Theme “LIGHT” explored via indoor/outdoor exhibits, special series by Fred Debrock and Anneke D’Hollander.
As VRT News reported, Ostend is hosting the works of 32 leading photographers at 20 locations across the city for the next 2 months. The Ostend Photo Biennial 2025 focuses on the theme of “LIGHT.”
Curator Stephane Verheye explained that light is essential for photography.
“Light reveals shapes, suggests depth, creates contrasts, and brings out emotion. It is the material that photographers use to create their images,”
he said. The exhibition is spread over 11 indoor and outdoor locations, including 9 galleries in Ostend.
What is featured at Ostend Photo Biennial 2025?
This year, the headline artist is Charlotte Abramow, known for directing music videos for Belgian singer Angèle, including “Murphy’s Law,” “Je Veux tes Yeux,” and “Balance Ton Quoi.” Abramow’s work often focuses on the human body, women, and the stages of life. She presents these themes in a surreal and sometimes absurd way.
The Ostend Biennial is her 1st exhibition in Flanders, marking a new milestone in her career. Alongside Abramow, visitors can also see works by Sanja Marusic, Flóra Borsi, Adrien Hendrickx, Frieke Jansens, and Klaartje Lambrechts.
2 photographers received a special assignment to create a series about Ostend. Fred Debrock focused on the Thermae Palace. His photographs capture the building’s size and design. Anneke D’Hollander travelled to Ostende in Argentina for her series.
She said that Ostende is a sandy and windy place. D’Hollander incorporated these natural elements into her images. She also documented traces of the original Ostend, including 2 historic hotels, part of the old dike, the founder’s house, and a post from the old pier.
The International Photo Biennale will be taking place in Ostend from September 6, 2025, to November 16, 2025. Entrance tickets for the indoor venues, such as Fort Napoleon and the Anglican Church, are €17. All outdoor venues are free, as are all outdoor galleries. Visitors can find full details and schedules on fotobiennale.be and visitoostende.be.
The International Photobiennial of Ostend started its first edition in 2019 in the framework of a city festival celebrating contemporary photography in all its forms. It was launched for the first time in the city in September 2019.
The second edition took place from September 16 until November 12, 2023, with the title “(IN)FLUENCE,” a theme which explored the interaction between photography and other visual arts to attract photographers from both the nation and abroad.
