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ENG

Olympe began her training as a professional dancer at the age of 8 at the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, where she graduated at 18. She then continued her development as a contemporary dancer at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp and obtained her teaching diploma in dance. While still studying, she started creating her own choreographies, which she performed at various festivals.

She toured with her own theater and dance company KOPSEER as both dancer and choreographer, and is now working on a new collaboration with Sien De Smet, creating performances for children. Additionally, she works as a movement director for commercial videos.

At the age of 19, she became a self-taught photographer. Her conceptual work has been exhibited in various galleries nationally and internationally. In 2016, she won the National Belgium Award at the Sony World Photography Awards in London. In 2017, she came second in the TV show Master of Photography, which aired on Sky Arts across multiple countries.

Her work has been featured in several magazines and newspapers, including De Volkskrant, Focus Vif, Shoot, De Morgen, De Standaard, New GUP, and numerous international online publications.

In addition to her conceptual work, she photographs for theater and dance companies, capturing performances, creating campaign visuals, and taking portraits of artists.
Clients include: Peeping Tom, KVS, P.A.R.T.S, Alexander Vantournhout, Tout Petit, Laika, De Studio, MAD, Walpurgis, Maxime Dreesen, Klein Drama, Lisaboa Hubrechts, Deschonecompanie, Needcompany, among many others.

 

NL

Olympe begon haar opleiding tot professioneel danser op achtjarige leeftijd aan de Koninklijke Balletschool van Antwerpen, waar ze afstudeerde op haar achttiende. Daarna volgde ze de opleiding hedendaagse dans aan het Koninklijk Conservatorium van Antwerpen en behaalde ze haar diploma dansdocent.

Reeds tijdens haar studies begon ze met het creëren van eigen choreografieën, die ze opvoerde op verschillende festivals. Ze ging op tournee met haar theater- en dansgezelschap KOPSEER als danser en choreograaf, en werkt momenteel aan een nieuwe voorstelling met Sien De Smet 'KRAKOT' voor 2+. Daarnaast werkt ze als movement director voor commerciële video’s.

Op negentienjarige leeftijd werd ze autodidactisch fotografe. Haar conceptuele werk werd tentoongesteld in diverse galerijen, zowel nationaal als internationaal. In 2016 won ze de National Belgium Award op de Sony World Photography Awards in Londen. In 2017 behaalde ze de tweede plaats in het televisieprogramma Master of Photography, uitgezonden op Sky Arts in verschillende landen.

Haar werk werd gepubliceerd in onder andere De Volkskrant, Focus Vif, Shoot, De Morgen, De Standaard, New GUP en tal van online magazines wereldwijd.

Naast haar conceptuele werk fotografeert ze voor theater- en dansgezelschappen. Ze legt voorstellingen vast, creëert beelden voor campagnes en maakt portretten van artiesten.
Werk(te) samen met: Peeping Tom, KVS, P.A.R.T.S, Alexander Vantournhout, Tout Petit, Laika, De Studio, MAD, Walpurgis, Maxime Dreesen, Klein Drama, Lisaboa Hubrechts, Deschonecompanie, Needcompany en vele anderen.

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FR

Olympe a commencé sa formation de danseuse professionnelle à l'âge de 8 ans à l'École Royale de Ballet d'Anvers, où elle a obtenu son diplôme à 18 ans. Elle a ensuite poursuivi sa formation en danse contemporaine au Conservatoire Royal d'Anvers, où elle a obtenu son diplôme pédagogique en danse.

Pendant ses études, elle a commencé à créer ses propres chorégraphies, présentées dans divers festivals. Elle a tourné avec sa compagnie de théâtre et de danse KOPSEER en tant que danseuse et chorégraphe, et collabore actuellement avec Sien De Smet pour créer des spectacles destinés au jeune public. En parallèle, elle travaille comme mouvement director pour des vidéos commerciales.

À 19 ans, Olympe a appris la photographie en autodidacte. Son travail conceptuel a été exposé dans de nombreuses galeries, tant en Belgique qu'à l'international. En 2016, elle a remporté le prix National Belgium aux Sony World Photography Awards à Londres. En 2017, elle a terminé deuxième à l’émission télévisée Master of Photography, diffusée sur Sky Arts dans plusieurs pays.

Ses œuvres ont été publiées dans divers magazines et journaux, dont De Volkskrant, Focus Vif, Shoot, De Morgen, De Standaard, New GUP, ainsi que dans de nombreuses publications en ligne internationales.

En plus de son travail conceptuel, elle photographie pour des compagnies de théâtre et de danse, documentant des spectacles, créant des images de campagne et réalisant des portraits d’artistes.
Parmi ses clients figurent : Peeping Tom, KVS, P.A.R.T.S, Alexander Vantournhout, Tout Petit, Laika, De Studio, MAD, Walpurgis, Maxime Dreesen, Klein Drama, Lisaboa Hubrechts, Deschonecompanie, Needcompany, entre autres.

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Conceptual work.

 

Olympe Tits's photography, opposites complement each other. Contrasting
colors draw figures by marking out areas in space. The soft texture of a skirt winds down on a stone floor. Divergent elements enter into a dialogue caused by contrast. Like opposites, they play a continual game of attraction and repulsion.

We see hidden bodies, as well as graceful and slender figures. They often appear in uncomfortable positions, while simultaneously acquiring a new form. These characters invite you to watch them. In return, they don't look back.You can sense a state of before and after in each photo. The movement from back then to later on is silenced in the now. Even though each character is overwhelmingly present, it longs to escape this now. At times, it literally accepts the situation. Often, it becomes entwined in the decor. At this point, humour finds its way into the pictures as well. The absurd humour of out-of-control nonsense becomes an image, documented in the never-ending now. The world in which these characters reside is filled with bright colors. This brightness is often reinforced by textures, making each color almost tangible. This way, the vibrant tones become an important part of this universe. Everyday spaces are saved from their banality. Materials transform into sensitive lines, meeting the body, like in a pas-de-deux with their opposites. The character is there, in that one place. Deafeningly, it silences us.

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'My work explores what it means to remain present as a woman in a world where we are still too often overlooked or erased.

That’s why women are central in my images—many of them, all of them in some way, are fragments of myself. I grew up in a vulnerable household, where I carried a lot of responsibility from a young age. In such a dynamic, it's easy to become invisible. You take on a supportive role, but deep down, you long to be seen.

Humor became my way of being present. It was a survival mechanism, but also a tool to reclaim space—to say “I’m here.” Through humor, I reconnect with a lost childhood, piecing together moments of play, absurdity, and tenderness.

Even though I am not physically visible in the photographs, each one is a self-portrait. They hold traces of my perspective—shaped by memory, experience, and a need to take up space.'

Olympe Tits​