Marcel Leliënhof (1966, the Netherlands) has been a professional photographer since 1993, and his list of merits as photographer is impressively comprehensive. Marcel was born in Rotterdam, and grew up in Bergen, Norway. At the age of 22 he moved to England, 14 years in London provided him with extremely valuable experience, as well as an excellent education in photography from the London College of Printing (now London College of Communication).
Marcel Leliënhof’s years in London equipped him with a sound knowledge of human nature and a passionate humanitarian commitment, as well as an inquisitive and open mind. It is precisely these qualities that have led to many of his projects. Although Marcel Leliënhof is often called the “celebrity advertising photographer”, it isn’t a title he associates with himself. For more than a decade he has dedicated much of his time to humanitarian work for various organisations.
Some say that Marcel Leliënhof’s pictures demonstrate a perfect blend of edge and elegance, of rock ‘n’ roll and reality. It is this combination we will get to experience during the festival when he shows the pictures from his project “Hells Angels – a Norwegian biker odyssey”. Featuring unique photographs of the Hells Angels (HA) in Norway his project portrays the behind closed doors life of this myth shrouded motorcycle brotherhood. The pictures will be published in a book scheduled for release in the autumn of 2013. Marcel Leliënhof is a keen motorcycle enthusiast himself and has a fascination for subcultures.
“When I decided to do a book on motorcycle culture, in wanted to start with the Hells Angels chapter that is the biggest and most difficult to approach,” he says about the book project he has spent three years of his life on. “People are people. When you get to know them, whether they are politicians, actors or a Hells Angels members, most people are pretty ordinary.”
This is the first time that a book depicting the Hells Angels community from the inside has been published in Norway, and it will remain the only one of its kind done with the approval of the Hells Angels themselves. Only three similar books exist anywhere in the world. Marcel’s pictures are portraits of individual chapter members, and they capture the essence of what it means to be a Hells Angel. Marcel has joined the Angels at parties, motorcycle rallies and at home with their families.
FESTIVAL
Nordic Light
April 23 – 27, 2013
Exhibitions until May 5, 2013
Kristiansund
Norway
