Untitled #42, 2012

Josef Nadj  

Josef Nadj was born in Kanizsa (Serbia, former Yougoslavie). He is a multi-talented artist: choreographer, dancer, set designer, and since 1995 the Director of the National Coreography Center in Orleans, France. In the '70s he studied Art History and Music at the Fine Arts Academy and the University of Budapest.

In 1980, he moved to Paris to study with Marcel Marceau and Etienne Decroux. In parallel he discovered contemporary dance that was trending in France at the time and took courses with internationally renowned choreographers. In 1986 he created his own company, Théâtre Jel and created his first theater play Canard Pékinois (Pekinese Duck) that he presented at the Bastille Theater in 1987.

In 1989 Josef Nadj started up with photography. He only started to exhibit his works more than 15 years later:
in 1996 he exhibited his "Installations", in 2000 a series of "Miniatures" - a cycle of Chinese ink drawings inspired by Bruno Schulz's work. In 2003 he exhibited his photographs for the first time.

in 2002 he was awarded the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2011 he was awarded the rank of Officier in the ordre des Arts et des Lettres.