Ruben Bellinkx / Stanley Kubrick

 

Stanley Kubrick

Still from the film The Shining

1980

35mm, colour, sound, 146’

 

 

When I first saw Stanley Kubrick's film 'The Shining' 25 years ago, the famous elevator scene left a deep impression on me. So much that there was a period that every new idea for a work of art was measured against this scene. 

In this scene (which is a work of art in itself), we are presented with a very aesthetic and balanced image that is at the same time very disturbing. With very recognisable elements, an unseen situation is created that we are left guessing about. I am also looking for this tension and contradiction in my own work. For me, good art should seduce and wring.

 

Ruben Bellinkx, 2022 

Ruben Bellinkx (BE)

Still from the film Double Bind

2020

35mm, colour, sound, 11’04

www.rubenbellinkx.com

Antony Densham / Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse

Open Window, Collioure

1905

oil on canvas

55,3 x 46 cm

 

Artists like Matisse opened the door, or should I say window for us all. This is a depicted scene but it’s a painting first. Matisse wasn’t afraid to pry apart his brushstrokes to allow the viewer to revel just as much at individual marks as what those marks depict. Challenging tradition, those brave souls at the beginning of the 20 th century were continually rejected from the Salon and lambasted for their efforts. We can all be so grateful for their courage and tenacity for pushing their boats out looking for new shores. After watching the BBC documentary, ‘Becoming Matisse’ It was made very clear by Matisse’s’ great granddaughter that his courage and conviction was derived from his wife and kids. Matisse painted this on his honey moon, coming out of a depression. One can see how much this special time coalesced his ideas.

 

Antony Densham, 2022

 

Antony Densham (NZ)

C1.2021

2021

acrylic on canvas

75 x 75 cm

www.antonydensham.com

Toon Laurense / Piet Mondriaan

Piet Mondriaan

Victory Boogie Woogie

1942-1944         

127,5 x 127,5 cm

oil paint/tape/paper/charcoal/pencil on canvas (unfinished)

 

 

The work of Piet Mondriaan is a strong inspiration to me, based on the amazement for the natural coherence of things and to express this in purely visual terms.

In his work, I recognise the constructive nature with the natural order as its basis, his search for the 'higher', going further and further into the 'depth' in order to express the true feeling of life.

The painting 'Victory Boogie Woogie' is the last painting Mondriaan worked on and which remained unfinished due to his death.

The work reflects his expectation and hope for a swift end to WW2 and the accompanying joy of imminent victory. A work full of rhythm, movement and positive energy, full of hope for better times.

In my recently completed work 'Broken pieces turn to something new', there is also a dancing interplay of separate parts that, like a kind of 'big bang', seek a new coherence and in their lightness express a hope and a desire for a better future. A world in the making.

 

Toon Laurense, August 2022

 

Toon Laurense (NL)

Broken pieces turn to something new   

2022

160 x 180 cm       

oil on canvas

www.toonlaurense.nl

Sam Renson / Franz Kline

Franz Kline

1960 New Year Wall, Night

1960

oil on softboard

305 x 488 cm

 

 

I will never forget my first-time seeing Franz Kline’s ‘1960 New Year Wall, Night’ whilst in Munich, Germany, as soon as I entered the gallery room I was completely overwhelmed and absorbed by the painting. Taken aback by the scale, consumed by the energy captured in the brush strokes and fascinated with the bold yet simplistic colour palette. I sat in-front of the work for the best part of an hour leaving only to re-entering the space, simply drawn to this magnificent piece. 

 

Kline one of the great Action Painters emphasised the physical act of painting, transferring energy from the New York Jazz scene into these wonderful works. Kline stating, “I paint not the things I see but the feelings they arouse in me”. It is this transfer of energy which effectively creates a physical engagement with the viewer, and this is what I admire most from Kline. 

 

Sam Renson, 2022

Sam Renson (UK)

Venue

2021

oil on board 

120 x 100 cm 

www.samrenson.com

Thijs Segers / Morris Graves

Morris Graves 

Snake and Moon

1938-39

gouache and watercolour on mulberry paper

64,3 x 75,3 cm

Morris Graves 

Blind Bird

1940

gouache and watercolour on mulberry paper

76,5 x 68,6 cm

Morris Graves 

Hibernation

1954

watercolour on paper

46,2 x 66,9 cm

 

 

There is so much chaos in the moons of Morris Graves (1910-2001). Their frosty white light scattering everywhere, surrounding the animals in his world on paper. At first it seems overwhelming, but when you accept the chaos for what it is, it opens up a great quietness. Just like white noise helps with meditation, Graves' moonlight make for beautiful, delicate paintings of contemplation.

 

Thijs Segers, 2022

Thijs Segers

Een Dodendans

2022

oil on linen

200 x 220 cm

Thijs Segers

Haas

2021

gouache on paper

24 x 30 cm

Thijs Segers (NL)

Haas

2021

oil on linen

150 x 200 cm

www.thijssegers.com

 

Piot Brehmer / Mark Rothko

 

Mark Rothko

No. 14

1960

oil on canvas

290 x 270 cm

 

 

After developing a new technique by accident with acrylic paste I push through a rubber grid, I started a whole new series of colorfield paintings in 2019.

This "Big Red Window“ was one of the first attempts and is still one of my favorite paintings till now. Deeply influenced in the 80s in music and style, my approach was somehow a post punk attitude.

I always thought "hey, this looks like a Rothko on steroids!“, raw, trashy, but with a huge impact. Savage waveforms touching a structured non perfect grid of fully saturated color on matte black velours fabric.

I wasn`t aware at this time, how striking the resemblance to Mark Rothko`s No. 14 really was, cause it wasn´t in my mind during the painting process.

Therefore this is my couple for the blog. Other dead heroes of mine are Newman, Palermo. Motherwell and all time fav Kline.

 

Piot Brehmer, 2022

Piot Brehmer (DE)

Big Red Window

2019

acrylic on velours

230 x 200 cm

www.piotbrehmer.de

Steven Van Meurs / Raoul De Keyser

Raoul De Keyser 
Penetrant 
1995
oil on canvas 
180 x 120 cm 

Raoul De Keyser 
Oefeningen met eerste linnen doos 
1967
acrylic and dispersion on canvas 

 

My interest in the work of Raoul De Keyser (1930 - 2012) deepened after my 'encounter' with the work “Penetrant” that was shown in M HKA Antwerp a few years ago. I was captivated by the varied 'landscape' of research-traces and an almost palpable concentration. Since then, De Keyser's consistent and varied oeuvre has gradually become a reference for my own practice. 

Steven Van Meurs, 2022

Steven Van Meurs 
Compound 
2022
acrylics & oil on canvas 
42 x 42 cm 

Steven Van Meurs 
Edgetrim 
2022
acrylics & oil on canvas 
38 x 52 cm 

Steven Van Meurs (NL)
Stepless 
2021
acrylics & oil on canvas 
42 x 50 cm 
www.stevenvanmeurs.nl/ 
instagram.com/steven_van_meurs