Marjan Borsjes

Marjan Borsjes (born 1957, Alkmaar) is a Dutch photographer who evolved from her background of social science and community development to become a social photographer.
Borsjes photographs daily life in the form of city sights, portraits and social reports or documents. Often the content is multicultural. Borsjes photographs originate from concentration, love and instinct; or a feeling for the right moment and the right composition.
She has lived and worked mainly in Amsterdam. Although she has followed some photo courses at the Amsterdam Center of Photography and Fotogram, she is a mainly autodidact photographer.

In 2000, Borsjes took part in the writing of photo history in the Dutch project “Fotomonument 2000” about the daily life of Dutch inhabitants. Her subject was city people with their bikes. Out of 6000 photos, one of hers was chosen for the front cover of the book "Kijk ons” (Look at Us).

In addition to various exhibitions, Borsjes photos' have been published in several books and in ten different magazines (local magazines as well as SPITS, Traditie (‘Tradition’) and Dvoice, the last three with a national range).

'World Citizens of Amsterdam' is the title of both this photograph and the event at which it was taken on 6 June 2010. Initiator and lead photographer: Marjan Borsjes. Central figure in this picture is interim mayor Lodewijk Asscher.

In 2007, Dutch media announced that Amsterdam had been declared the most multicultural city in the world, with citizens of 177 different nationalities (out of a total of 194).This was the spur to organizing a celebration that would gather representatives from as many of these countries as possible, culminating in a group photo taken by Marjan Borsjes.

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

• 2002—Rondom Oud-West, in Toonzaal (With the focus in and around the old west district of Amsterdam), Amsterdam
• 2002—Portraits, at NOPPES (Local Exchange and Trading System in Amsterdam)
• 2002--Buurtmuseum Wenslauerstraat (Neighbourhood museum), Amsterdam
• 2003—City Sights and Portraits, Costa & Co, Amsterdam
• 2003—Foto’s met een knipoog (Photos with a Wink) at barbers’ place Figaro Pasquale, Amsterdam

Group exhibitions

• 2001— Look at Us,(Fotomonument 2000) Zaanstad, the Netherlands
• 2002— Holland, Thank You, ABC Treehouse Gallery Amsterdam
• 2002— Water, exhibition at polder-board, Hilversum, The Netherlands
• 2003—Dogs and Their Masters, Kinkerhoek Library, Amsterdam
• 2003—Typical Van Lennep, neighbourhood exhibition. Neighbourhood inspired art by the inhabitants.
• 2003-- Tuliphoto, Dutch photographers showed their best photos of tulips, ABC Treehouse Gallery, Amsterdam (See http://www.treehouse.abc.nl/galleryold/tuliphoto/tuliphoto.php)
• 2004—Bellamy by Night-route, with lighted windows where art could be viewed in the evening.
• 2004—The Meeting of Cultures, in Vrijplaats, Amsterdam (This is a place which provides starting artists with an opportunity to work and exhibit their work together. Marjan cooperated with six other photographers.)
• 2004—Water (See http:// www.treehouse.abc.nl/galleryold/water/water.php) ABC Treehouse Gallery

Awards

• 2000—nomination in the American Book Center Calendar Competition
• 2002—nomination for the PANL-award, the Netherlands
• 2002—nomination VARA (Broadcast Company) in competition about Cows
• 2004—winner in category Family Union, photo contest in the International Year of the Family, United Nations
• 2004—selected for Mediterranean Photo Biennale 2002-2004, Mediterranean Foundation of Art
• 2004—third place in photo competition of Dutch Weather Institute
• 2005—honorable mention for series Finnegan In Holland IPA 2005 Photographer of the year Competition