CV Arjen van de Merwe

 

2005-present: independent photographer based in Blantyre, Malawi.
Specializes in NGO photography (both documenting field work, and creating staged photographs for IEC materials) commercial photography (for annual reports, calendars, and advertising), and teaching photography.
He is photojournalism lecturer at the University of Malawi.
In 2013 he trained the photojournalists of Blantyre Newspapers Limited.
Photographs made for ao Unicef, BBC, UNFPA, Bridge II Project, EU-GoM Micro Programmes Project, Concern Universal, Cordaid, Story Workshop, Zain, CFAO, Standard Bank, FD communications, JTI, Inside Magazine, Nanzikambe Theatre, NICO Holdings, Central Africana Publishing, Macra, European Union, MTL, TNM, Mary’s Meals, Creative Revolution, Sunbird Hotels, FDH, Corporate Graphics, MSB, Access Communications, FD Communications, ZK Advertising, GENET, JHU, Self Help Africa-Malawi, Self Help Africa-Zambia
He made the photographs for the 276 page book When Animals Sing and Spirits Dance (2012)
Graphic design ao for Unicef, Be My Guest Magazine, Save the Children, Story Workshop, GENET
Published in ao The Daily Times, The Nation, Malawi News, Arts Magazine, Traveller Magazine, City Side Magazine, Weekly News, The Nation on Sunday, the Big Issue Malawi, Lifestyle Magazine, Pride Magazine
He has made photographs for the 2011 NICO calendar
He has made all photographs for the 2011 MSB calendar
He has made all photographs for the 2008, 2009, and the 2010 EU-GoM IFMSLP (forestry) calendar.
He has made all photographs for the 2009 Story Workshop Calendar.
From June 2007 to 2012 he was photojournalism lecturer at Malawi Institute of Journalism.
At MIJ, in 2011 he did a Photo Exchange project with Malawian and German students. Here questions and photos were exchanged between photojournalism students from both countries. http://www.mij.mw/photoxchange.html
In 2012 he initiated the Photojournalism Education Project, which is currently running, funded by Tilitonse. In it he facilitates the upgrading of photojournalism education at MIJ and Polytechnic University through training of trainers, curriculum development and procurement of equipment (cameras, computers, projectors).
In 2012 he has facilitated the Photama workshop and exhibition at Blantyre Arts Festival, in which 6 Photama members exhibited photographs newly made for the event.
Since 2012 he has taught several classes in photography privately in his office in Ryalls Hotel. Ao about basic photography, model photography, portrait photography, nature and wildlife photography.
He has won the 2007 World Aids Day photo contest of Blantyre Newspapers Limited and the American Embassy in Malawi.
He is an active member of the Photographers’ Association of Malawi (PHOTAMA). From 2007 to 2010 he was vice secretary. He has facilitated 4 photography trainings for Photama.
He is photo editor of Be My Guest Magazine

He has published internationally in Elle USA, Aftonbladet, Irish Times. Dutch newspaper publications include Volkskrant, NRC, Parool, Telegraaf. Dutch magazine publications include Vrij Nederland, Groene Amsterdammer, Slagwerkkrant, Fret, LiveXS. He has published photos through news agencies AP and ANP. He is currently affiliated with Still Pictures photo agency in London, UK.
1997-2005: independent photographer based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for NGO’s, magazines and newspapers, specialising in community and empowerment projects and musicians. He has done projects for ao UNFPA, Unicef, DSW, Interact Worldwide, WPF, CCMC, IPPF, NCDO, Concern Universal. He has worked in the field in South Africa, USA, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Publications include UNFPA State of the World Population Report, as well as numerous IEC materials and others by these and other organisations.

Exhibitions include:
Reproductive Rights, field photographs of reproductive health and rights projects in Asia and Africa, in the gallery of the Public Library in Amsterdam, 2003
Reproductive Rights, in the House of Lords, London, 2003
The Musicians, concert photographs of pop and rock musicians, in the gallery of the Public Library in Amsterdam, 2004
Reproductive Rights in NCDO office in the Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, 2005
Malawian Photographs 2006, in Chez Maky, Blantyre, Malawi
Malawi, nature and landscape, in La Dolce Vita, Blantyre, Malawi 2008
Malawi 2010, fine art/fashion photos in the French Cultural Centre in Blantyre, Malawi 2010
The Great Dance, photographs of Malawian mask dancers, MSU Museum, Michigan, USA, 2011

1997-2005: student at Fotogram photography school in Amsterdam, Netherlands
1984-1997: free lance musician, playing trombone, guitar, composer, record producer. Teacher of trombone and composition, both privately and at Muziekpakhuis music school in Amsterdam. Photography as a hobby. 1980-1984: student at Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, studying trombone and composition.
1978-1980: student musicology at the University of Amsterdam.
1972-1978: student at Barlaeus Gymnasium, Amsterdam
1966-1972: student at Vrijschool, Amsterdam
1960: May 15th born in Amsterdam, Netherlands