A European national, born in Belgium, Tom has lived, traveled, studied and worked in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Africa. While his professional career in international business has led him through various disciplines and expertise, throughout he has been a traveler, researcher, nomad, restless mind, critical thinker, humanist,

and multiculturalist. He and his wife Drieke lived in the USA for seven years and they have recently relocated to Shanghai with their son.

A documentary photographer and writer, with a profound interest in architecture, culture, and history, he recently completed a five years long photography project about the caravanserais in Middle East and Central Asia. Schutyser became intrigued by the caravanserais and fascinated by the connections between these centuries-old structures and current international affairs in the Middle East, the West, and the East. His first series of photos from northern Iran resulted in an art collaboration with Gilles Neuray, a series of gallery exhibitions in Portland, USA, and his first solo exhibition in Paris, France, in collaboration with l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture (ENSA) of Paris-Val de Seine.

In 2009, another four-month road trip through Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan led to a second visual documentary on the caravanserais. The photographic series “Caravanserais in the Levant” was exhibited in Lebanon at Silk Factory in Beiteddine, at Art Lounge in Beirut, and in photography exhibitions in Portland, USA. In 2012 his unique documentary photography book about the caravanserai, one of six building types in Muslim architecture, was published by 5 Continents Editions (Milan, Italy). The bilingual publication (English/French) includes contributions from some of the most eminent writers, thinkers, and journalists specializing in the Middle East and foreign relations. The book is supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and is distributed worldwide. 

He enjoys operating in an international environment linking up with a variety of experts and professionals. As a consultant he is interested to work with companies and organizations on international projects where cultural differences and misunderstandings require a multicultural approach and thorough international project management expertise.

Looking for aesthetics and values in his professional activities, his passions are traveling, research, photography, writing, architecture and design.

Most fascinating travel and international professional experiences

        Lebanon, Syria, Jordan (2009-11), Ethiopia (2009), Senegal & Mali (2008),

        China (2007, Beijing, Xian), Egypt (2006, Western Desert), Asia (2003-05, Professional),

        Iran-Central Asia-China (2003, Silk Road, Shanghai), Vietnam & Japan (1997-99, Professional),

        Singapore (1996, Professional), China-Pakistan (1995, Silk Road), Somalia (1992-93, UN

        mission), India-Nepal (1991), Rwanda (1981-82).

Favorite artists

        Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Zaha Hadid,

        Marcel Breuer, Richard Meier, Oscar Niemeyer,

        Sebastião Salgado, James Nachtwey, Lee Miller, Robert Capa

        Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Permeke, Gust De Smet, Luc Tuymans,

        Hussein Chalayan,

        Shirin Neshat,

To contact Tom, consider an email and send to mail@consideratcaravanserai.net