Why I think less might be more in the art world
The contemporary art world is evolving rapidly. More gallery exhibitions, more artists, more art fairs. But in a system built on speed and volume, what gets lost is depth, reflection, and meaning.
In this opinion piece, artist and publisher Bastiaan Woudt explores the limits of the traditional gallery model and advocates for a slower, more intentional approach to artist representation, collector engagement, and creative sustainability.
This is a call for a different rhythm in contemporary art. One that values long-term collaboration over constant visibility, and depth over scale.
What inspired me in July?
There are moments when image, sound and space suddenly align. This newsletter brings together a few of those moments.
Man Ray once said:
“I paint what cannot be photographed, something from the imagination… I photograph the things I don’t want to paint, things that are already in existence.”
That quote perfectly captures how I approach Echo from Beyond. I create images that I cannot make with a camera. Visuals shaped by imagination, yet grounded in photography. It’s about giving form to something that doesn’t exist, but feels like it should.
Here are the things that shaped my thinking in July.
Printing Isn’t Dead: It’s the Future of Digital Art
A photograph is nothing but data until it is printed. Light captured, stored, arranged in a pattern of pixels, existing but not yet real. It waits. The same is true for digital art, even for images shaped by artificial intelligence. They live in the intangible, hovering in a world of screens, never fully stepping into ours.
And then, ink touches paper.
Exploring Consciousness with DMXE and Zeus Tipado
Two years ago, I met neuroscientist Zeus Tipado during Paris Photo. This month, we reconnected for a guided experience with DMXE—a lesser-known synthetic psychedelic.
My goal? To translate that altered state into visual work—not to exhibit, but to better understand. What followed was a dreamlike journey through memory, perception, and abstraction.
Looking back to move forward
Lately I've been thinking about that balance - how an artist moves between revisiting what made them who they are and pushing into the unknown. A recent conversation with my gallery led me back to some of my earlier work, the work that shaped me and became part of what people recognize as my photography.
Introducing the Small Edition
Alongside the existing Normal and XL Editions, I am introducing a new Small Edition. Selected works will now be offered in a 30x40cm edition, limited to 5 + 2 AP. This format allows for a more intimate engagement with my work and offers a new entry point for collectors
What inspired me in january?
The first month of the year always feels like a slow awakening. The days are short, the weather is far from my favorite, and everything seems shrouded in a muted haze. But in those quiet moments, there's space to consume, to absorb, and to let inspiration settle in. This month, I found it in unexpected places - through the lens of a war photographer, in the immersive glow of light installations, in AI-generated art exhibited in one of the world's most prestigious galleries.
Creating Without Limits
The days of carrying heavy camera gear and stacks of notebooks to create work while traveling are behind us. Technology has transformed the way we create. In the past I relied on specific locations and complex equipment, but now I can produce, edit, and share images from almost anywhere in the world. The ability to work on my art has become easier, but the creative process itself remains just as demanding.
Does art need to tell a story?
In a world where storytelling is increasingly at the core of art, I sometimes wonder: does every work of art really need a narrative? Must we always seek out or even create a story to justify the value of a work?
Maximum Minimalism by Matthias Harder
Matthias Harder, Director of the Helmut Newton Foundation, has written the introduction, providing his perspective on my work and how it fits into the broader context of contemporary photography. His text offers a thoughtful interpretation of the influences and techniques behind my minimalistic style.
Jaeger Art Berlin
Looking back with great pleasure on my solo exhibition at JAEGER ART Berlin late last year. A big thank you to the entire JAEGER ART team and everyone who came by to experience the show. This marks the start of what I hope will be a lasting relationship with the vibrant art scene in Berlin. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to present my Echo from Beyond project for the first time—selling 3 out of 4 works from the series during the opening was truly incredible. Here’s to more inspiring collaborations in the future!
Echo from Beyond: A Successful Debut at Jaeger Art Berlin
I’m excited to share the success of my latest series, Echo from Beyond, which recently debuted at my solo exhibition at Jaeger Art in Berlin. This series, which merges my photographic archive with AI-generated interpretations, has already captured attention. At the opening, we sold three of the four works from this collection—an encouraging start that reflects the enthusiasm surrounding this new direction in my work. The exhibition runs until November 16, and I’d love for you to experience it in person.
Feadship x Bastiaan Woudt
Explore the virtual gallery ‘Masterpieces’ of the world's leading super yacht builder, Feadship. The gallery showcases exclusive pieces I've created for the industry leader, alongside some of my most renowned works. Check it out via the link below
New work at Museum Kranenburgh, exhibition “In de rug van de zee”.
I am incredibly honored to present a new work at Museum Kranenburgh for the exhibition “In de rug van de zee”. The work “BAZ” was specially made for this exhibition and shows a landscape of dunes in Bergen, where I grew up. This work exists in an edition of 10+2AP. As an artist from Bergen, I feel a deep connection to the landscape that has inspired so many artists before me. This exhibition brings together nearly forty artists who, since the arrival of the first pioneers in the twentieth century, have captured the magical beauty of the polders, forests, dunes, and sea.
Featured in Architectural Digest Magazine
Discover my artwork showcased in the stunning interiors by Casa Muñoz, featured in Architectural Digest Magazine.
Photo London, 2024 with Atlas Gallery
This year my work was shown at Photo London together with Atlas Gallery. Thank you al for the kind response!
CHANEL X BASTIAAN WOUDT
I am proud to announce a special collaboration that is very close to my heart: capturing Chanel's Haute Horlogerie collection. This series, created in Chanel's Paris ateliers, marks a unique fusion of our shared values of craftsmanship and aesthetics.
NEW PROJECT: ECHO FROM BEYOND
I proudly introduce 'Echo from Beyond'.
Echo from Beyond is an ongoing project that serves as my creative sketchbook, where I push the boundaries of photography and art by merging my photographic archive with the capabilities of AI, making it mixed media.
This project holds a special place alongside my ongoing photographic work and explores previously unimaginable imagery, fuelled by my thoughts, psychedelic experiences and the media I consume. This fusion of elements creates a unique visual language that transcends traditional photography and offers a window into a world full of new possibilities and discoveries.
PHILLIPS X BASTIAAN WOUDT
I am thrilled to announce my first solo exhibition in New York, titled 'BASTIAAN WOUDT: ESSENCE', presented by the prestigious auction house Phillips.
This exhibition not only marks my debut in one of the art world's capitals but also the first time Phillips has dedicated an exhibition to the work of a single photographer in their new state-of-the-art headquarters in New York.