Josephina van de Water (b. 1985, Netherlands) is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Antwerp, Belgium. In 2020, she obtained an MA in photography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp.
Her work is driven by an interest in indefinable sociological and political questions, and visualising hidden structures of power and perception. Earlier work examined how stories contort our perception and how the freedom of thought is shaped and foreclosed — through photography, video, writing, and sculpture.
Her recent work continues this inquiry into perception by other means: how we look when the world is no longer immediately readable, and what it means to resist the quick, settled glance.
Group Shows
2025 / Bouts du monde, Figures de L'Île, An exhibition curated by the Centre Photographique Rouen Normandie. Flamanville, Normandy.
2021 / The lost paracosmist, .tiff, FOMU, Antwerp, Belgium.
2020 / The lost paracosmist, Blume! Photo masters graduation show hosted by FOMU, Antwerp, Belgium.
2020 / The lost paracosmist, Breedlijn, Antwerp, Belgium.
Solo shows
2023 / Cloud Cuckoo Land, Paracosm House, Antwerp, Belgium.
Photo Festival
2021 / Tbilisi Photo Festival, Tbilisi, Georgia. (The lost paracosmist)
Film Festival
2020 / Breedbeeld kortfilm festival, Antwerp, Belgium. (The lost paracosmist - Official selection)
2020 / Paris Lift Off Film Festival, Paris, France. (The lost paracosmist - Official selection)
Awards
2021 / Futures PhotographyTalent
2021 / .tiff platform, FOMU Antwerp, Belgium
2020 / No Film School Prize - Breedbeeld kortfilm festival, Antwerp, Belgium (The lost paracosmist)
Shortlist
2020 / Blurring the lines 2020 (The lost paracosmist)
Publications
2023/ Cloud Cuckoo Land, published by Paracosm House, Antwerp, Belgium.
2021 / Hybrids: Forging New Realities as Counter-Narrative, published by Futures x Melkweg Expo, Amsterdam, Netherlands. (The lost paracosmist)
2021 / .tiff Magazine, published by Fotomuseum Antwerpen, Belgium. (The lost paracosmist)
2020 / Blurring the lines catalogue, published Urbanautica books, Italy. (The lost paracosmist)
Education
2018 - 2020 / Royal Academy of Fine Arts, MFA in photography, Antwerp, BE
2018 / Royal Academy of Fine Arts, BFA in photography, Antwerp, BE
2017 / Nederlandse Academie voor Beeldcreatie, BA in photography, Rotterdam, NL