Hassink was the winner of the prestigious Prix No Limit d’Arles at the Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles, France (2002), given to a photographer who pushes the boundaries of the medium.
Born in the Netherlands, Hassink (1966) is most known for her global photo art projects that deal with the world of economic power. In a precise and almost scientific way she has mapped the economic globalization of our society by focusing on global FORTUNE 500 companies since 1993. She has collaborated with the most powerful CEOs in the world on projects that take place primarily in their headquarters.
In her first art project The Table of Power (1993-1995) she photographed the boardroom tables of Europe’s forty largest multinational corporations. The tables were photographed without people in the frame. The collaborating multinationals were asked to fill out a questionnaire about these tables and the artist made drawings of the table setting during board meetings. Subsequently, Hassink worked on the global art projects Female Power Stations: Queen Bees (1996-2000), Mindscapes (1998-2003), Car Girls (2001-2007) and Arab Domains (2005-2006). All these projects are or will be published in book format.
Her work has shown internationally including Huis Marseille, Foundation for Photo-graphy, Amsterdam; Fotomuseum Winterthur, Winterthur; Scalo gallery, New York; Galerie Deux, Tokyo; the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum for Photgraphy in Tokyo; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Rencontres Arles, Arles; and the Photographers’ Gallery in London.
Her photographs are in the collections of the Pont Foundation in Tilburg, Netherlands; LaSalle Bank Photography Collection in Chicago; DG Bank in Frankfurt am Main; the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. In 2003 she has collaborated with Rem Koolhaas on the WIRED magazine “Office Space” and in the same year she had interviews on CNN television and BBC Radio.
Hassink is a visiting lecturer on Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, USA, a visiting professor at the Program of Higher Education in photography at the Ecole d’arts appliqué in Vevey, Switzerland, and at the Wits University in Johannesburg, and at the Kanazawa College postgraduate program in fine arts in Kanazawa, Japan, and the International Center of Photography in New York.
In 2007 Chris Boot will publish “The Power Book,” an overview of all Hassink’s work since 1993. The exhibition “The Power Show” will accompany the book. The show will tour to the following venues; Huis Marseille foundation for photography, Amsterdam; Netherlands Photo Museum, Rotterdam; Cohen Amador gallery, New York.
Images 1-3 The haute couture world is the most elite in the fashion industry. Unusually large rooms with mirrors, they are private spaces within a private environment. In "Haute Couture Fitting Rooms, Paris" (2003-ongoing), Hassink addresses these spaces that are a reflection of the very specific corporate image the couturier wants to project, and at the same time a secluded and elite 'mirror world'.
Images 4 & 5 For "Car Girls" (2002-2007) Hassink visited car shows in cities of 3 different continents, each with differing cultural values with regard to their ideal images of beauty and women. The series captures the moments during the womens' performances when they become more like dolls or tools than individuals.
Image 6 In "Banks" (1995-1996), Hassink explored the relationship between Europe's largest banks and Europe's largest multinationals, photographing thieir boardroom tables empty of people.
