Martien Van Beeck studied painting and photography in the ’80s. After engaging in multiple personal photography projects as well as collaborative projects, his interest in art shifted back to painting some fifteen years ago. He has been painting fulltime since.
Martien Van Beeck - AFORISMEN (NL)
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Martien Van Beeck studied painting and photography in the ’80s. After engaging in multiple personal photography projects as well as collaborative projects, his interest in art shifted back to painting some fifteen years ago. He has been painting fulltime since.
Van Beeck works in series. These series can be abstract (e.g. ‘Cathedrals’), or figurative (e.g. Glass and Curtains), or explore the middle ground between abstract and figurative (e.g. Aphorisms).
About some series:
- The ‘Cathedrals’ are inspired by pillars and arches in Gothic churches. At the same time they comment on painterly aspects like ‘dripping’, ‘control and accident’, ‘color and form’.
- The series of ‘Clouds’ starts from a fascination shared with lots of painters for clouded skies (Constable, Dahl, Richter, …). The challenge is trying to fix the constantly changing constellation of clouds in a painting.
- The ‘Aphorisms’ all have the same small size (24 x 30 cm). Each painting makes a powerful statement and tries to give maximum information in a small rectangle. Within the series the subjects vary: autobahn, homage, shrubbery, swamps, …
- The newest series of aquarelles ‘Apocalypse’ explores the subject of ‘fire’. Fire is a symbol of life but simultaneously it can be a source of deadly destruction. How to depict fire in a painterly interesting way, is the challenge here.
His paintings have been shown in solo- and group shows in Belgium and works were included in national and international group shows (e.g. MoNo in Berlin by ExtractArt).
Studies
Photography 1984-1987 Royal Academy, Ghent, Belgium
Painting 1978-1982, Royal Academy, Ghent, Belgium
Recent international exhibitions
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, Fireworks Factory, London, 2024
MoNo, HB55 Art Factory, Berlin, October 2023
Time Machine, Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 2018
Recent solo exhibitions in Belgium
Chastelain & Butes, G.A.N.D.A. - parcours, Gent, 2024
(on)eigentijdse voorstellingen, ZEBRAstraat, februari 2023
Kathedralen & Wolken, Sint-Amanduskapel, 2022
Recent group exhibitions in Belgium
Filmfestival Gent, October 2023
Kijk! De Wolken! / Regardez! Les Nuages!, Verhaerenmuseum Sint-Amands, 2023
No More My Space, La Maison des Cultures de Molenbeek, Brusssel, 2019
Brussels Street Photography Festival, Brussel, 2018
Recent publications and reviews
Aforismen, book, published by ExtractArt - Berlin, 2024
Kathedralen, book, published by A&S/Books - Stichting VANDENHOVE, 2022
Wolken, book, published by A&S/Books - Stichting VANDENHOVE, 2022
DUBBEL / DOUBLE, book, Dutch - English edition, 2022
Il Corpo Solitario. L’autoscatto Nella Fotografia Contemporanea, Giorgio Bonomi, Italy, 2013
Urban Rumors, catalogue, 2011
Art Silence, Bibliotheek Kunstwetenschappen, University Gent, 2011
O.K. Periodicals #5 / The Body Issue, Arnhem, The Netherlands, 2010
Lens Culture Fotofest, Paris 2010
Arts And Artists, winter issue, Washington Dc, 2010. Interview
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