About
Biography
Joery Erna (b. 1993) is an artist based in Belgium, working across photography, installation, film and performance. His doctoral research, Elastic Encounter, explores photography as a relational practice shaped by collaboration, care and queer forms of intimacy, while his teaching at LUCA School of Arts extends these questions into shared processes of learning and making. Alongside his own work, he contributes to the practices of others in film and performance, moving between artistic roles and engaging with communities as spaces of encounter and exchange.
Statement
My practice begins with an invitation to meet. Working with photography, experimental cameras, installation, film and performance, I explore how a photograph takes shape between people. Who determines what happens? How do we make room for another person, and what does it ask of us to share control? In Elastic Encounter, touch, sound, heartbeat and time become conditions for making together. My engagement with queer lives and photographic cultures informs an attention to intimacy, visibility and the possibility of being present without having to reveal all.
These questions move through my artistic work, teaching and contributions to the practices of others. I understand collaboration as a way of passing knowledge around, allowing what each person carries to surface through an exchange. I hope a viewer leaves with a heightened attention to the people around them: to what a photograph makes visible, what remains withheld, and what becomes possible when we allow an encounter to change us.
These questions move through my artistic work, teaching and contributions to the practices of others. I understand collaboration as a way of passing knowledge around, allowing what each person carries to surface through an exchange. I hope a viewer leaves with a heightened attention to the people around them: to what a photograph makes visible, what remains withheld, and what becomes possible when we allow an encounter to change us.
CV
Exhibitions
2026Rehearsal, Elastic EncounterGenk, BE
2025Artistic Temporalities (Seminar)Antwerp, BE
2024FaxHasselt, BE
2023Let’s Change, Don’t ChangeHasselt, BE
2021Ondersporen @ CC HasseltHasselt, BE
2020Design Festa GalleryTokyo, JP
2019Photobook Belge @ FotomuseumAntwerp, BE
2018Luca ShowcaseLeuven, BE
2018EXITHasselt, BE
2018PREJAVU XLTilburg, NL
2018APROXIMITY @ Z33Hasselt, BE
2017RAUWGenk, BE
2017MOVEMENT 13Genk, BE
2016Ruiven ALERT: ALL ArtTongeren, BE
Documentary
2022Joery Looks at Easy Tiger
2018Joery Looks At Tom
Publication
2023Essay “Gooseflesh” for Queer+New York, USA
2023Essay for publication Fashion+New York, USA
2018Self-Published at Residency: Sweat x HeartHasselt, BE
Residencies
2024Werkplaatsen VonkHasselt, BE
2023C-taktNeerpelt, BE
2021Z33 Residency, Let’s Change Don’t ChangeHasselt, BE
Training
2025FILM EU - Illumina TrainingVilnius, LT
2024Leadership ProgrammeGenk, BE
2024BJP - Writing for PhotographersLondon, UK
Conference
2025Inclusive Digital SocietyLeuven, BE
2023Agents of ConcernHasselt, BE
Masterclasses
2026LUCA School of Arts (Toolkit) with K. TuytschaeverGenk, BE
2024Academy of Fine Arts with K. TuytschaeverAntwerp, BE
2023Academy of Fine Arts with K. TuytschaeverAntwerp, BE
2022Cine-Dans Festival MasterclassAmsterdam, NL