Renée Revah

Born in 1978 in Athens, Greece.

Lives in South Attica. Renee studied to be an actress and at the same time attended stage lighting and drawing lessons that ultimately guided her to photography. Her admiration for theater has influenced her approach to photography every step of the way. As a result, she tends to direct images and to perceive the world around us as part of a performance on stage.

Recently she started free diving underwater photography and it quickly turned into a passion. The photographic work under the sea represents an impermeable bond. The relation between light and shadow. The pareidolia effect that the sea bed creates. The way the image penetrates the subconscious.

Renee became familiar with diving and the seabed at an early stage. The depths of the ocean; a place foreign to most and frightening at times to the rest. The idea of what lies beneath the surface of our plain sight is often unsettling.

“Her photos are taken from another level and space as depth appears limitless. Thus, subjects displayed in her portraits effervesce in their attempt to breath. When admiring each piece, unwittingly, you may find yourself holding your own breath as if you want to feel what people are experiencing in front of her lens.
“The feeling of finding yourself beneath the water’s surface has the power to transform you, it exposes you to someone unassociated with your identity, a primitive version of yourself”. This statement is often used by the photographer to describe the feeling of mankind as an entity. Forgotten memories are discovered every time we resurface and return to our natural state. She believes that this is caused by having conquered the unconscious fear of depth.
She recognizes that size is no factor within the borderless depths of what lies beneath the surface. So much of what we cannot comprehend takes place beneath it. Besides, each one of us has or will find ourselves seeking for answers, alone, inside our own seabed. Inside the depths of our own, boundless silence”.
_Alex Papaioannou

EDUCATION

2017  Photography Seminar “Dreams” with Platon Rivellis.

2011  Masterclass with photojournalist Simon Norfolk.

2010  Seminar of Creative Photography with Platon Rivellis at the Benaki Museum.

2009/11  Photography Seminar with Platon Rivellis.
Focus School of Photography.

1997/99  Acting studies at the Contemporary Theater of Athens with George Kimoulis.

SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019  Solo photography exhibition “Silence – A breath of consciousness”, curated by Alex Papaioannou at Booze Cooperativa art space, Athens.

2018  Group photography exhibition “Small Sections” at Sparta, Greece.

2018  Group photography exhibition “Synopsis” at Anti Art Gallery, Kastro – Antiparos.

2018  Group photography exhibition at Antiparos International Photo Festival.

2018  Solo underwater photography exhibition “Ocean of Dreams” at iFocus Gallery, Athens.

2018  Group photography exhibition “Personal Perspective” at Darkroom Gallery, New York.

2018  Group photography exhibition (“Placebo” underwater project) at Technopolis city of Athens, organised by Photographos Magazine.

2018  Group photography exhibition “Underwater” by Loosen Art at Millepiani Art Space, Rome.

2018  Group photography exhibition “Small Pieces in Time” at Sparta, Greece.

2017  Group photography exhibition at the 1st Photosphere international open air photography festival at Patmos Island.

2017  Group photography exhibition “FOUND & LOST” at Float art gallery in collaboration with Void, Athens.

2017  Group photography exhibition “Glances” at the Image Gallery, Athens.

2017  Solo underwater photography exhibition “Plaseabo” at Placebo Pharmacy, Athens.

2017  Group photography exhibition “Seven” at Vault Theater Plus, Athens.

2015  Group photography exhibition “My summer” at the Image Gallery, Athens.

2012  Solo photography exhibition “Vacant time” at Booze Cooperativa art space, Athens.

PRINTED WORK – THEATRICAL BROCHURES

2018  Cover photograph for Christer Knutsen and Marie Munroe single “Fall to pieces”.

2017  Cover photograph and inlays for Sivert Høyem’s live album and concert film “Live at Acropolis – Herod Atticus Odeon, Athens” and cover of “Give it a whirl” single.

2012  Theatrical play “Routes”, produced by Exaformis Dance Theater at Theater Alumni.

2011  Published photographs in the book “You say I’m life” by Anemos publishing house.

2010  Theatrical play “Amadeus” by Peter Shafer at Vretania Theater.

2009/10  Theatrical play “The Fall” – based on Albert Camu’s The Fall, produced by Blind Spot at Bios – Athens center for today’s art and cross media.

2009  Theatrical Play “Para Amoris” at Theseum Theater.

2009  Theatrical Play “Fatigue”, produced by Mag Company at Bios – Athens center for today’s art and cross media.

1999/01  Travel Photography for Elle, Gaiorama and Geotropio magazines.

ART FAIRS AND AWARDS

2018  The artworks “Still Floating” and “Soul Diving” are shown at the ARTBOX.PROJECT New York 1.0 during the Armoury Art Weeks.       

2017  HPS Honorary Diploma  in the Open Colour Category for the photograph “Nostalgia” at the 1st International Printed Photo Exhibition Circuit.

2017   The artwork “White Urchin” is shown at the Basel artweeks.

2017  Gold awards both in Music and Underwater categories at Mifa – Moscow International Fotography Awards.