Michaël Borremans
Encyclopedia
Michaël Borremans is a Belgian
painter and filmmaker who lives and works in Ghent
. His painting technique draws on 18th century art as well as the works of Édouard Manet
and Degas. The artist also cites the Spanish court painter Diego Velázquez
as an important influence. His earlier drawings, many of which belong to the collection of fellow painter Jan Van Imschoot
, are often used as a basis for his later paintings. In recent years, he has been using photographs he has made himself or made to order sculptures as the basis for his paintings.
. Originally trained as a photographer, he turned his attention to drawing and painting in the mid-nineties. He uses old photographs of people and landscapes as inspiration for his work. His eye for detail and a perfection in execution have an alienating character.[needs citation]
Until his break-through, he was a teacher at the Stedelijk Secundair Kunstinstituut Gent (Secondary Municipal Art Institute of Ghent). Another painter Jan Van Imschoot
had seen and bought many pieces of his work when it was exhibited in his local pub in Kalken. He put him in touch with Jan Hoet
, the founder of the S.M.A.K. (Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst) (City Museum for Contemporary Art) in Ghent, Belgium. This led to an introduction to Frank Demaegd, owner of Zeno X
Gallery in Antwerp, where he had his first major exhibition.
in Oslo, and in 2009, he had a solo show at the Kestnergesellschaft
in Hanover
, Germany
In 2007, he had a solo show at gallery De Appel
in Amsterdam, focusing on his cinematic works. In 2005, he had a one-person exhibition of paintings and drawings at the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.), Ghent. The paintings then traveled to Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
, London, and The Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, while the drawings traveled to the Cleveland Museum of Art
in Ohio. Other solo exhibitions include La maison rouge, Paris (2006); Kunsthalle Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany; and the Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel, Switzerland (both 2004). In 2004, he participated in Manifesta 5, The European Biennial of Contemporary Art.
He is represented by Zeno X
Gallery in Antwerp and David Zwirner
in New York.
, Atlanta, Georgia; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada
, Ottawa; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
; Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.), Ghent; Walker Art Center
, Minneapolis, Minnesota; among others.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
painter and filmmaker who lives and works in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. His painting technique draws on 18th century art as well as the works of Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet was a French painter. One of the first 19th-century artists to approach modern-life subjects, he was a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism....
and Degas. The artist also cites the Spanish court painter Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
as an important influence. His earlier drawings, many of which belong to the collection of fellow painter Jan Van Imschoot
Jan Van Imschoot
Jan Van Imschoot is a Belgian contemporary artist whose works are collected by various international museums.He is represented by major galleries including Brussels, Switzerland and Los Angeles....
, are often used as a basis for his later paintings. In recent years, he has been using photographs he has made himself or made to order sculptures as the basis for his paintings.
Biography
Borremans studied at the Hogeschool voor Kunst en Wetenschappen Sint-Lucas (College of Arts and Sciences Saint Luke) in GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. Originally trained as a photographer, he turned his attention to drawing and painting in the mid-nineties. He uses old photographs of people and landscapes as inspiration for his work. His eye for detail and a perfection in execution have an alienating character.[needs citation]
Until his break-through, he was a teacher at the Stedelijk Secundair Kunstinstituut Gent (Secondary Municipal Art Institute of Ghent). Another painter Jan Van Imschoot
Jan Van Imschoot
Jan Van Imschoot is a Belgian contemporary artist whose works are collected by various international museums.He is represented by major galleries including Brussels, Switzerland and Los Angeles....
had seen and bought many pieces of his work when it was exhibited in his local pub in Kalken. He put him in touch with Jan Hoet
Jan Hoet
Jan, Knight Hoet is the founder of SMAK in Ghent, Belgium.-Biography:Jan curated Documenta IX in Kassel in 1992...
, the founder of the S.M.A.K. (Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst) (City Museum for Contemporary Art) in Ghent, Belgium. This led to an introduction to Frank Demaegd, owner of Zeno X
Zeno X
Zeno X is an art gallery, directed by Frank Demaegd, of mainly figurative painting within the contemporary art in Antwerpen, Belgium.Artists Luc Tuymans Marlene Dumas, Raoul De Keyser, photographer Dirk Braeckman, painter and filmmaker Michaël Borremans, installation and video artist Stan Douglas...
Gallery in Antwerp, where he had his first major exhibition.
Exhibitions and projects
In 2011, Borremans' work was the subject of a solo exhibition, titled Eating the Beard, which was first on view at Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart in Germany and traveled to Műcsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest, and Kunsthalle Helsinki in Finland. In 2010, he had a solo exhibition at the Kunstnernes HusKunstnernes Hus
Kunstnernes Hus is an art gallery in Oslo, Norway. It is Norway's largest gallery under the direction of artists, and has served as a major center for exhibits of Norwegian and international contemporary art. It is also a prominent example of Functionalist architecture and houses the Office for...
in Oslo, and in 2009, he had a solo show at the Kestnergesellschaft
Kestnergesellschaft
Kestnergesellschaft - is an art gallery in Hanover, Germany.The Kestnergesellschaft, sometimes referred to as the Kestner society, was founded in 1916 with the goal of promoting the arts in Hanover, Germany. Its founders included the painter Wilhelm von Debschitz...
in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
In 2007, he had a solo show at gallery De Appel
De Appel
De Appel is an internationally focused contemporary arts centre, located in Amsterdam. Since it was founded, the goal of de Appel is to function as a stage for research and presentation of visual arts. Exhibitions, publications and discursive events are the main activities of de Appel. In 1994...
in Amsterdam, focusing on his cinematic works. In 2005, he had a one-person exhibition of paintings and drawings at the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.), Ghent. The paintings then traveled to Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art is a privately funded educational charity based in London and a not-for-profit contemporary art gallery established in 2005. The Foundation is housed in a converted warehouse over two floors. The building was renovated to a design concept by the Italian...
, London, and The Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, while the drawings traveled to the Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art is an art museum situated in the Wade Park District, in the University Circle neighborhood on Cleveland's east side. Internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art, the museum houses a diverse permanent collection of more than 43,000...
in Ohio. Other solo exhibitions include La maison rouge, Paris (2006); Kunsthalle Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany; and the Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Basel, Switzerland (both 2004). In 2004, he participated in Manifesta 5, The European Biennial of Contemporary Art.
He is represented by Zeno X
Zeno X
Zeno X is an art gallery, directed by Frank Demaegd, of mainly figurative painting within the contemporary art in Antwerpen, Belgium.Artists Luc Tuymans Marlene Dumas, Raoul De Keyser, photographer Dirk Braeckman, painter and filmmaker Michaël Borremans, installation and video artist Stan Douglas...
Gallery in Antwerp and David Zwirner
David Zwirner
David Zwirner is a gallerist and art dealer and owner of the David Zwirner Gallery in New York City. In 2010 Zwirner was listed at number four in the ArtReview annual "Power 100" list.-Early Life:...
in New York.
Collections
Public collections, including The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; High Museum of ArtHigh Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art , located in Atlanta, is the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States and one of the most-visited art museums in the world. Located on Peachtree Street in Midtown, the city's arts district, the High is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center.-History:The Museum was...
, Atlanta, Georgia; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall...
; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
, Ottawa; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
; Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.), Ghent; Walker Art Center
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is considered one of the nation's "big five" museums for modern art along with the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and the Hirshhorn...
, Minneapolis, Minnesota; among others.
External links
- Michaël Borremans at David Zwirner
- Selected Press at David Zwirner
- Zeno X Gallery - Michaël Borremans works, biography and cv
- 'Michaël Borremans: the secret charms of the enigma essay by Stefan Beyst
- Michaël Borremans at artnet