Jan Theun van Rees holds a life-long fascination for spatial representation on a flat picture plane. This has manifested to his specialization in photographing (interior-) spaces. 

Over the course of a decade, he found various differing spaces in front of his lens, such as hidden spaces in Chicago land mark buildings (2003 – 2007), or the dismantled theaters and museums undergoing major renovations (2003 – 2012).

After documenting buildings for over a decade, his photographs gradually shift from the representation of a space to visualizing his personal perception of that space. These images are the result of observing an adjusted physical space through application of drapes or other elements.

In 2018, he started constructing the entire space, created just for the photograph. This construction process is intuitive and time intensive. As he looks through his camera and experiences a space never seen before seen, he makes the photograph. 

Van Rees still pursues on-site photography. He gravitates to spaces that fascinate him, for example, when light plays an unexpected game in a small corner behind a door. His gaze at actual spaces is influenced by his studio work while afterwards the constructed spaces always appear to have their origin in previous spatial experiences. This studio and on-site interaction are inspirational and lead to many new insights and creative opportunities.

2022  
ACEC ondergronds, Apeldoorn – ‘In Situ’ (solo)
September 10 – October 30, 2022  
Photogallery Objektief, Enschede – ‘On Space and Perception’ (solo) 
Jewish Museum, Amsterdam – ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’  
Kunstuitleen, Alkmaar – ‘Water’ 
KunstRAI 2022, Amsterdam – with gallery/publishers 99 Frozen Fountain, Amsterdam – ‘Recent Work’ 

2021 
SBK, Amsterdam – ‘Sprouts’ and ‘Link’ 
This Art Fair, Amsterdam 
Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam – ‘Update 2’ 

2020 
Kaalstaart Festival, Amersfoort 

2019 
Kunsthal 45, Den Helder – ‘A Given Space’ 
Bagagehal Loods 6, Amsterdam – ‘A Given Space’ (curator/artist) Pictura, Groningen – ‘Something With Space’ 
Arti et Amicitiae – ‘We Wonder Where the White Went’ 

2018 
Kunstcentrum, Haarlem – ‘Colour Royal’ 
Kunsthal 45, Den Helder – Crossing Colors 

2017 
Festival ‘Celebrating Vacancies, Schiedam 
Kunstcentrum, Haarlem – ‘While Meditating on War #2’ Kunsthal 45, Den Helder – ‘Public Space’ (curator/artist)

2016 
Expositieruimte De Lawei, Drachten – ‘How It Is’ (with Bas Geerts) 

2015 
Amnesty International, Amsterdam – ‘Freedom on 4.5 square feet’ (solo) 

2014  
City Archive, Amsterdam – ‘Endgame’ (solo) 
The Red Wall at the Stopera, Amsterdam – ‘Hidden City’ (solo) 

2013 
Marion Gallery at SUNY, Fredonia (USA) – ‘X-ing Perspectives’ (with Jacqueline Kooter) 
Witteveen Gallery, Amsterdam – ‘Hidden City’ (solo) 

2011 
City Archive, Amsterdam – ‘Dismantled – Returned’ (solo) 

2010 
Stedelijk Museum, ‘Temporary Stedelijk’ (building room) 

2008 
INKIJK gallery, Amsterdam – ‘Twinstation’ (at subwaystation Weesperplein) (solo) CBK, Amsterdam ‘Castle of East’ 

2007 
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago – ‘One Wall Away’ (solo) 

2006 
Chicago Cultural Center – ‘Buildings Dream …’ (solo)