Sophie Kuijken

Sophie Kuijken's portraits are familiar, intriguing, and enigmatic. They seem to observe us, yet their deep gazes are elusive. The flesh tones, sometimes very pale, give them a ghostly appearance. Sophie Kuijken stages these characters, floating against a dark, featureless background. They could be anyone and no one at the same time, from here or elsewhere, real or fictional.

 

Heir to traditional Flemish painting, the artist paints in the style of the great old masters of the 15th century while using modern techniques. To create her mysterious portraits, Sophie Kuijken gathers images of objects and people from the Internet. She organizes her research by keywords, which can be a place, a number, or a term. The assembly of several elements (body parts, clothing, accessories) is then worked on and retouched using software to create a single character. The result is a mixture of bodies, temporalities, geographical origins, and different stories.

 

This exhibition disturbs our gaze. It intrigues, fascinates, and unsettles us. These characters seem to have a lot to say, but reveal nothing; too many feelings and expressions are mixed together in a single figure. However, the artist manages to give each character an identity, titling her works with initials, as if to bring them to life. By painting composite characters, Sophie Kuijken creates images of humanity that are both unique and universal.

 

Sophie Kuijken's exhibition presents a selection of original paintings on wood panels as well as drawings on plaster. This dialogue between materials and techniques offers a rich and original visual experience, revealing the finesse and depth of her artistic work.