Tom Callemin (1991, Ostend) explores what photography reveals—and what it conceals. His images question our habit of reading meaning into appearances, a process that has long shaped how we view identity. His meticulously staged photographs, using handmade sets, sculptures, and close collaborations with models, invite viewers to question what they see. In an era of AI, filters, and digital manipulation, Callemin returns to the photo studio and uses physical materials like clay and plaster to explore how perception can be deceptive. He works closely with his subjects to examine how the body is seen—or hidden—by the camera. The result is a series that challenges how we see and what we believe.

Double Reality marks the conclusion of his six-year doctoral research and will be presented in the eponymous exhibition, organized by Be-Part Kortrijk in Abby.