BELGIAN  ARTIST

BORN 1979, LIVES AND WORKS IN BELGIUM

 

I am a contemporary artist expressing myself through painting and sculptures. I am autodidact, but i love to let myself be influenced by different artists such as Jack Pierson, Jung Lee, Basquiat, Cy Twombly,  George Condo, and more.

I can be influenced by a quote on a magazine cover or be inspired by the design on a cereal box.  All my works are based on emotions. Each piece originates from different feelings and desires. Those feelings are converted in words. I emphasize the idea behind those words by repeating them… by working in multiple layers.

Based on life, relationships, conversation, emotions and media, I explore the way to express myself through the visual effect of a written word. Each work is a personal story that, once manipulated, I put down that story on a canvas or transform it into a wall sculpture. These stories can be adopted by anyone.

In my paintings , erasing, repeating and coloring those words creates a tangible, emotional, almost abstract image. I like to create a rhythmic repetition that creates a sort of visual abstraction where the meaning of the word itself makes place for the visual . Creating playful different forms , the written word becomes less important. The message becomes an image. How the word is implemented and reproduced, as well as repeated on the canvas, fascinates me.

 

“There are no rules in art” - George Condo

 

I have always been intriged and interested in shop signs, neons, advertising or different pictograms… how they are made to guide, influence or warn us. I started working on my box series and wall sculptures 10 or12 years ago.

The idea behind the wall sculptures was creating a more direct approach , to have impact on the viewer. Creating those pieces in multiple layers reinforces the impact. These sculptures, handwritten and blown up, each carry a message. Messages that can be interpreted by the viewer as is ,but also with a certain irony behind it.

Messages such as ”the show must go on”, ”welcome to the circus”, “once upon a time” or –“happily ever after”. All of those messages carry a personal and emotional value. They often can reflect on society , the everyday life. The viewer gets triggered , charmed or influenced in an emotional way or a more formal, esthetic way.

 

I want to take the viewer on a kind of personal roadtrip. Giving of myself, exposing my thoughts, feelings… these are camouflated into a painting or a sculpture.