| Anton Corbijn was born in Holland in 1955. In his photographs, Anton Corbijn’s subjects seem solemn and distracted; smiling perhaps, but still worn down by the burdens of celebrity. His subjects are pictured as serious people, caught in intimate moments and far removed from their high-powered stage personas. If given the choice, Corbijn would almost always shoot his subject outside in a natural environment rather than the studio, even if it was against a plain white wall. “I'm a very, very basic photographer,” Corbijn says. “The main strength of my pictures, I guess, is the mood and feel I get out of the people that I meet. But technically I don't think I'm very advanced. That never interested me.” Corbijn eschews the label "rock photographer," he says, because it makes him sound like some groupie who runs around with a backstage pass, grabbing shots of lead singers with their arms around their latest babes. His approach is more that of the classic portrait photographer. “My biggest fear always is that I'll photograph an idea rather than a person,” he says. “So I try to be quite sensitive to how people are.” “Anton Corbijn is not at all dead when he's taking photos,” writes Brian Eno in Star Trak's introduction. “He's actually a bit crazy, going all over the world to take pictures of people, but then acting as though it doesn't really matter in the least sure, let's do a few pictures now we're here, but don't let it get in the way of anything.” “I do scout for locations a lot and I usually do have a feel of something I want,” Corbijn admits. “It's not like standing in front of the Eiffel Tower or something cliché, but it could be some particular hedge or wall that gives you a feeling of France rather than being specific. Yes, I'm quite sensitive to that.” Writes Eno: I think that's what everyone likes his respect for whatever is going on at the time, his reluctance to impose, his sense of timing. He makes it light, lets you know that your life doesn't depend on it... “...In fact,” continues Eno, “when Anton turns up, the mood invariably becomes funnier, more pliable. He has a way of making you feel that you wouldn't mind experimentally making an arse of yourself because he doesn't either. His life doesn't depend on it.” “The last few years have been a bit hard - scheduling and coordinating - it's very tiring,” Corbijn admits. “My work has become bigger business in the sense that I do bigger jobs and obviously, yes, I've become a little more professional - which I don't really want to be but I can't help it at some point.” Corbijn has photographed Michael Stipe so often that he feels comfortable waking up the R.E.M. vocalist at 6:00 in the morning if the light's right for a shot. “When I was young, I thought, okay, I'm going to do some music pictures like this for a while and then at 35 I'm going to do something else. But now I'm in my forties and I still enjoy it.” Videos and Hollywood may call, but Corbijn knows enough to stick to his basics. “I'm not going to give up music photography for a while,” he says simply. Control marks Corbijn's debut as a movie director in 2007. It is a black & white movie about Ian Curtis, lead singer of post-punk band Joy Division. The screenplay written by Matt Greenhalgh is based on the book Touching from a Distance, by Curtis's wife, Deborah. The film details the life of the troubled young musician, who forged a new kind of music out of the punk rock scene of the United Kingdom in the 1970s, and the band Joy Division, which he headed from 1977 to 1980. It also deals with his marriage and extramarital affairs, as well as his frequent seizures, which probably contributed to the circumstances leading to his suicide on the eve of Joy Division's first U.S. tour. The film, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, won the Director's Fortnight, the CICAE Art & Essai prize for best film, the Regards Jeunes Prize and the Europa Cinemas Label prize for best European film in the sidebar. It also won five awards in the British Independent Film Awards and Best Film award in the Evening Standard British Film Awards. |
| Anton Corbijn - Selected Group Exhibitions | |
2010 |
Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) |
| Still in Motion - The 10th Anniversary, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Roma (Italy) | |
2009 |
Miles Davis - We Want Miles, Musée de la Musique, Paris (France) |
| Still in Motion - The 10th Anniversary, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) | |
| The Portrait. Photography as a Stage, Kunsthalle Wien, Wien (Austria) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
2008 |
Art Verona, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea , Verona (Italy) |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Art Verona, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea , Verona (Italy) | |
| Video, Festival Circuito Off, San Servolo, Venezia (Italy) | |
| Music to see, The music video as an art form, ARos Aarhus Kunstmuseum, (Denmark) | |
| Fever, Nobel Peace Center, Brynjulf Bulls Plass, Oslo (Norway) | |
| MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy) | |
2007 |
The Trip-Pop Game, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) |
| L'arte di invecchiare, AR/GE Kunst, Bolzano (Italy) | |
| Art(verona, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Verona (Italy) | |
| Eroi! Come noi...?, PAN, Palazzo delle Arti Napoli, Napoli (Italy) | |
| Supermodels II: Real vs Unreal, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Roma (Italy) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
2006 |
Good Vibrations: le arti visive e il rock, Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena (Italy) |
| Sound & Vision, Palazzo della Penna, Perugia (Italy) | |
| Portraits - The view behind the make-up, Galerie Anita Beckers, Frankfurt (Germany) | |
| MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy) | |
| Nudes, Moika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg (Germany) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
2005 |
Oog en oog, Groninger Museum, Groningen (The Netherlands) |
| Collezione La Gaia, Busca, Cuneo (Italy) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Smile away the parties and champagne, Gemeentemuseum, Helmond (The Netherlands) | |
2004 |
The Drifter The Dreamer, Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) |
| Arco, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Madrid (Spain) | |
| VIDEO - Die Bildsprache des 21 Jahrhunderts, NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf (Germany) | |
| Focus Faces, Galerie Monika Mohr, Hamburg (Germany) | |
| Vier eeuwen roken in de kunst, Kunsthal, Rotterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| 25 Jahre Videoästhetik..., NRW Forum, Düsseldorf (Germany) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
| The Drifter The Dreamer, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| The Drifter The Dreamer, Govinda Gallery, Washington D.C. (USA) | |
| Amnesty Photography Exhibition, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam (The Netherlands) | |
2003 |
Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxemburg (Luxenburg) |
| Not Ordinary People, Galleria In Arco, Torino (Italy) | |
| Melting Pop, Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena (Italy) | |
| MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy) | |
| ARCO, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Madrid (Spain) | |
| Anton Corbijn & Traumwelten, Camera Work AG Hamburg, Hamburg (Germany) | |
| Aktion Mensch, Neue Sächsische Galerie Chemnitz, Chemnitz (Germany) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Photography in Advertising, Form/Design Centre, Malmö (Sweden) | |
| Vanity Fair, Torh Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| Aktion Mensch, Das ZDF, Mainz/ Lerchenberg (Germany) | |
| Mortalis, GEM, The Hague (The Netherlands) | |
| Aktion Mensch, Galerie Waidspeicher, Erfurt (Germany) | |
| James Nicholson Gallery, San Francisco (USA) | |
| Photography in Advertising, Malmö (Sweden) | |
| Zeno X Anniversary Show, Zeno X, Antwerp (Belgium) | |
| Guided by Heroes, Kunstzentrum Z33, Hasselt (The Netherlands) | |
| Style of Life, Naarden Photofestival, Naarden (The Netherlands) | |
| Face to Face, Galerie der Stadt Stuttgart, Stuttgart (Germany) | |
2002 |
Thin Skin, Gemeentemuseum Helmond, Helmond (The Netherlands) |
| La Revolución del Roclk & Roll, Fototeca de Cuba, Havana (Cuba) | |
| Aktion Mensch, Moskauer Haus der Fotografie, Mscow (Russia) | |
| Artissima, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Torino (Italy) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Arco, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Madrid (Spain) | |
| Strip&Tease, Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels (Belgium) | |
| MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy) | |
2001 |
Arco, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Madrid (Spain) |
| MiArt, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Milano (Italy) | |
| Art Cologne, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Köln (Germany) | |
| Artissima, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Torino (Italy) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
2000 |
Still in Motion, Palazzo Frisacco, Tolmezzo (Udine) (Italy) |
| Art Cologne, LipanjePuntin and Torch Gallery, Köln (Germany) | |
| Supermodel: Identity and Transformation, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) | |
| Arte Fiera, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Art Brussels, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Brussels (Belgium) | |
1999 |
Kunsthalle Bremen, Bremen (Germany) |
| San Francisco Art Fair, David Beitzel Gallery, San Francisco (Usa) | |
| Art Cologne, LipanjePuntin and Torch Gallery, Köln (Germany) | |
| Art Fair Stockholm, Gallery Magnus Aklundh, Stockholm (Sweden) | |
| Art Chicago, David Beitzel Gallery, Chicago (Usa) | |
1998 |
Art 29 Basel, Torch Gallery, Basel (Switzerland) |
| Art Cologne, Torch Gallery, Köln (Germany) | |
| 50 Years STERN, Fotokino, Köln (Germany) | |
| 50 Years STERN, Hamburg (Germany) | |
| Kunstral / Art Amsterdam, Torch gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| Gramercy Art Fair, Torch Gallery, New York (Usa) | |
1997 |
Fotoos, Gemeentemuseum Helmond, Helmond (The Netherlands) |
| Arte Fiera, Galerie Polhammer, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Fotoos, Yokohama (Japan) | |
| Fotoos, Atrium, Fuknoka (Japan) | |
| Exponera, YFO, Stockholm (Sweden) | |
| Art Fair Stockholm, Galerie Magnus Aklundh, Stockholm (Sweden) | |
| Smart Show, Torch Gallery, Amsterdam (Usa) | |
| Exponera, Warehause, Malmo (Sweden) | |
| Exponera Photofair, Gothenburg (Sweden) | |
1996 |
The Cool and the Crazy Images of Punk, Govinda Gallery, Washington (Usa) |
1994 |
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) |
| Anton Corbijn - Selected Solo Exhibitions | |
2009 |
Munka, Ludwig Muzeum, Budapest (Hungary) |
2008 |
Retrospective, Tennis Palace Art Museum, Helsinki (Finland) |
| Retrospective, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow (Russia) | |
| Shapes of Time, Biennale di Alessandria , Alessandria (Italy) | |
| Retrospective, Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg (Russia) | |
2007 |
Broken White (with Marlene Dumas), Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (Japan) |
2006 |
U2&i, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) |
| Anton Corbijn - John Lurie, Galerie Lelong, Zurich (Switzerland) | |
| Cha Cha Fenomeen Herman Brood, Groninger Museum, Groningen (The Netherlands) | |
2005 |
U2&i, Schirmer/Mosel Showroom, Munich (Germany) |
| Anton Corbijn. U2&i, C/O, Berlin (Germany) | |
| U2&i, Torch, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| 22:U2, Michael Hoppen Gallery, London (United Kingdom) | |
| Stroganov Palace, St. Petersburg (Russia) | |
| Herman Brood, Fotomuseum, Antwerp (Belgium) | |
| Mortals, Fotomuseum, Antwerp (Belgium) | |
| Mortals, Arsenal Exhibition Halls, Riga (Republic of Latvia) | |
| Anton Corbijn, Fotomuseum Provincie Antwerpen, Antwerp (Belgium) | |
| U2&i, C/O Berlin, Berlin (Germany) | |
| U2&i, Stellan Holm Gallery, New York (USA) | |
| U2&i, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Roma (Italy) | |
2004 |
Mortals, Fotokina, Cologne (Germany) |
| Werk, Photogalerie 94 c/o Kunstraum Baden, Baden (Switzerland) | |
| Fotomuseum, Antwerp (Belgium) | |
| Anton Corbijn, Palazzo Fortuny, Venezia (Italy) | |
| Anton Corbijn / KLM, Cobra Museum, Amstelveen (The Netherlands) | |
2003 |
Anton Corbijn, Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Bologna (Italy) |
| Mortalis, GEM, Den Haag (The Netherlands) | |
| Everybody Hurts, Schirmer/Mosel Showroom, Munich (Germany) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) | |
| Everybody Hurts, Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover (Germany) | |
| Anton Corbijn: Photographs of U2, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland (USA) | |
| Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxemburg (Luxemburg) | |
| Star Trak, Galerie Monika Mohr, Hamburg (Germany) | |
| Galerie Camera Work, Hamburg (Germany) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Galerie Anita Beckers, Frankfurt (Germany) | |
| Dogenhaus Galerie, Leipzig (Germany) | |
| everybody hurts, Kunsthalle Göppingen, Göppingen (Germany) | |
2002 |
Deutsches Museum, Munich (Germany) |
| Mortals, Ystads Konstmuseum, Ystad (Sweden) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Galerie Mosel & Tschechow, Munic (Germany) | |
| Anton Corbijn, Futurshow, Bologna (Italy) | |
| Mortals, Øksnehallen, Copenhagen (Denmark) | |
| Herman Brood - Anton Corbijn, COBRA Museum, Amstelveen (The Netherlands) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Torch Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| Mortals, Regional Museum, Kristianstad (Sweden) | |
| Leica Gallery, Prague (Czech Republic) | |
| Lithprints, Camera Work, Berlin (Germany) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Galerie Anita Beckers, Frankfurt (Germany) | |
| Mortals, Kulturhuset Stockholm, Stockholm (Sweden) | |
| Mortals, Museum Sundsvall, Sundsvall (Sweden) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Gemeentehuis Strijen, Strijen (The Netherlands) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Magnus Aklundh Galleri, Malmö (Sweden) | |
| a. somebody, strijen, holland, Richard Goodall Gallery, Manchester (United Kingdom) | |
2001 |
Strippinggirls, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) |
| Strippinggirls (with Marlene Dumas), Institut Néerlandais, Paris (France) | |
| Museum Dresden, Dresden (Germany) | |
| Govinda Gallery, Washington (Usa) | |
| Casa de Vacas, Madrid (Spain) | |
| Galeria Valle Quintana, Madrid (Spain) | |
| Müncher Stadtmuseum, Munich (Germany) | |
| Anton Corbijn, NRW, Düsseldorf (Germany) | |
2000 |
Werk, Groninger Museum, Groningen (The Netherlands) |
| Museum Bochum, Bochum (Germany) | |
| Strippinggirls (with Marlene Dumas), S.M.A.K., Gent (Belgium) | |
| Richard Goodall Gallery, Manchester (UK) | |
| Galerie Almine Rech, Paris (France) | |
| Strippinggirls (with Marlene Dumas), Theatermuseum, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| Oksnehallen, Copenhagen (Denmark) | |
| Torch Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
1999 |
David Beitzel Gallery, New York (Usa) |
| Gallery Magnus Aklundh, Lund (Sweden) | |
| Outdoor Images, Temple Bar Propereties, Dublin (Ireland) | |
| Still Lives, LipanjePuntin artecontemporanea, Trieste (Italy) | |
| Galerie Almine Rech, Paris (France) | |
| Galerie Anita Beckers, Frankfurt (Germany) | |
1998 |
Dum umeni mesta Brna, Brno (Republic of Slovakia) |
| DG Bank, Frankfurt (Germany) | |
1997 |
Fahey Klein Gallery, Los Angeles (Usa) |
| Kunstverein Arnsberg, Arnsberg (Germany) | |
| Castello di Rivoli, Torino (Italy) | |
| Exponera, Warehause, Oslo (Norway) | |
| Galerie Anita Beckers, Darmstadt (Germany) | |
| Galerie Mosel & Tschechow, Munich (Germany) | |
1996 |
Deichtorhallen, Hamburg (Germany) |
| Zeno X Galerie, Antwerp (Belgium) | |
| Star Track, Torch Gallery, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | |
| Beursschouwburg, Brussels (Belgium) | |
| Galerie Anita Beckers, Darmstadt (Germany) | |
1994 |
Kunsthal, Rotterdam (The Netherlands) |