Belgian Realism
About
In a caricature by Jacques Charlier, he depicts how the history of modern art is dealt with in Belgium: you dig a hole, you throw that art in and you close the hole again. In order to prevent it from happening again, this study aims to map out a particular aspect of contemporary Belgian art, so that this history will not be lost, but will be given a new lease of life.
History is not lost, but can be passed on to the next generation. The study 'Belgian Realism' starts from the observation that a new young generation of artists has emerged who work in a figurative, narrative and autobiographical manner, and who often also hand out pinpricks to the conceptual art consensus. The language in which they represent this new realism makes use of popular art forms such as comic strips, cartoon and fiction film, also relies on a classical aesthetic by making use of fiction and alter egos, but also deals heavy blows to the excesses of our current digital visual culture. Belgian Realism departs from a young generation of artists such as Rinus van de Velde, Kati Heck, Nel Aerts, Nicolas Provost, Charlotte Lybeer, Gerrit Vermeiren, Charif Benhelima, Tine Guns, Yannick Ganseman, Koen van den Broek, Brecht Vandenbroucke, Marc Palmer...
and links them to a previous generation such as Evelyne Axell, Ria Pacquée, Liliane Vertessen, Fred Bervoets, Pjeroo Roobjee, Guy Peellaert, Walter Swennen, Walter De Mulder, Herman Selleslaghs...
Researchers:
- dr. Jeroen Laureyns
Research unit: Image
Duration: 2018 - 2021
