But if you look longer, you notice that behind that classical appearance lies a distinctly contemporary power.
At first glance, the work of Bart Gielen (Kanegem) seems to have escaped from another era. His drawings evoke associations with centuries-old portraits and narrative scenes. But if you look longer, you notice that behind that classical appearance lies a distinctly contemporary power.
Gielen works not only on paper and wood, but also on ceramic supports that he
shapes and marks himself. In doing so, he breaks through the traditional boundaries between drawing, painting, and sculpture. Although his work is based on existing visual material—fragments from art history, the media, and his personal archive—he transforms it into new,layered compositions. In this amalgamation, Gielen seeks sparks: unexpected
connections, alienating contrasts, and a subtle tension between the recognizable
and the mysterious.
One of his signatures is his controlled play with light and shadow. By sharpening contrasts and distorting perspectives, his images take on a tangible depth. They
balance between comfort and unease, between seclusion and openness.
Gielen's visual language speaks in whispers. His work exudes silence, isolation, hope, but
also uncertainty — themes that slowly unfold in poetic layers. Yet he leaves room for interpretation: his images do not seek to explain, but to suggest. Their enigmatic, dreamlike quality invites contemplation, not conclusion.
With his unique combination of craftsmanship, imagination, and resistance to unambiguity, Bart Gielen confirms his place as a contemporary artist with a timeless voice.
