The 8th edition of the Biennial of Painting is on view from 26 June to 2 October at three art museums at the banks of the Leie

From 26 June to 2 October 2022, the three visual art museums at the banks of the Leie — the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens (MDD), the Museum of Deinze and the Leie Region (mudel) and the Roger Raveel Museum (RRM) — join forces to present the 8th edition of the Biennial of Painting.

Since 2008, MDD, mudel and Roger Raveel Museum have simultaneously presented paintings from Belgium and abroad every two years. This 'celebration of painting' always departs from the context and the collection of the three museums.

This year too, the Biennial of Painting presents a combination of modern and contemporary painting, with internationally renowned artists such as Kerry James Marshall, Oscar Murillo, Marthe Donas, Raoul De Keyser, René Magritte, Jef Geys, Emile Claus, James Ensor, Luc Tuymans and Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven.

For this 8th edition, each museum explores the history of painting in its own unique way. The result is three exhibitions, for which each museum invites one or more guest curators who, based on an individual selection, shed light on the characteristics of the medium of painting and link it to current themes.

Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens invites artist Oscar Murillo and curator Gabi Ngcobo to focus, with the exhibition The 't' is Silent, on artists and works that record time differently, works that are about painting or that think through the medium of painting as a form of journaling – of working things through and of learning anew. The artists featured in this exhibition - Marcela Cantuária, Hamishi Farah, Donna Kukama, Kerry James Marshall, Oscar Murillo, Brandon Ndife, Dalton Paula and Francis Offman - face history and the present by embracing ‘trouble’ and a kind of ‘paining’ that forces one to decide, in a time marked indecision. Where objects disappear, they are replaced by feelings and energy; where they appear they are being dissected in order to uncover another world of possibilities.

Museum of Deinze and the Leie region collaborates with philosopher and art critic Willem Elias and platvvorm. The exhibition Gamechangers & Eyeopeners investigates how artists look at the work of previous generations. Mudel analyses the practice of several artists who are embedded and nourished by local trends or traditions, but are unable to fully ground themselves in it or who experience it as too limited. The presentation of mudel will include work by Emile Claus, Raoul De Keyser, Marcin Dudek, Dieter Durinck, Henri Evenepoel, Jef Geys, Gommaar Gilliams, Torahiro Kojima, Guy Mees and Gustave Van de Woestyne, among others.

The Roger Raveel Museum has engaged artist Vaast Colson for the selection of artists and artworks, as well as the presentation of the works. The exhibition Scribble, dabble, splatter, smear questions the intrinsic properties of painting as a visual medium, its technical qualities and its two-dimensional universe filled with signs and motifs. The exhibition shows that an artwork is created in a place where the artist is working, in a local context, but is embedded in a much larger and broader story that transcends borders and time. The selection spans more than a hundred years and includes only artists who were or are active in Belgium, such as Fred Bervoets, Thierry De Cordier, Raoul De Keyser, Gust. De Smet, Marthe Donas, James Ensor, Vincent Geyskens, Roger Raveel, Léon Spilliaert, Walter Swennen, Luc Tuymans, Frits Van den Berghe, Jan Van Imschoot, Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven, René Magritte, Philippe Vandenberg, Jan Vercruysse, Marthe Wéry and Maurice Wyckaert.

The three museums are also launching a common website in which all practical information is gathered, as well as the history of the previous editions. This platform ​ serve as a source of inspiration for visitors and researchers.

The Biennial of Painting is an ideal cultural excursion or weekend trip for the whole family. The three museums are located in a straight line barely 13 kilometres from each other. Combine a visit to the three museums with a combi-ticket and a cycling or walking tour through the beautiful Leie region.

Biennial of Painting
​26 June - 2 October 2022

www.biennalevandeschilderkunst.be

Locations

Artists

Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens: Annabelle Agbo-Godeau, Marcela Cantuária, Hamishi Farah, Donna Kukama, Kerry James Marshall, Misheck Masamvu, Jenny Montigny, Oscar Murillo, Brandon Ndife, Chemu Ng’ok, Francis Offman, Dalton Paula, Anh Trần.

mudel: Charles-René Callewaert, Emile Claus, Amédée Cortier, Werner Cuvelier, Raoul De Keyser, Marcin Dudek, Dieter Durinck, Artur Eranosian, Henri Evenepoel, Tsuguharu Foujita, Jef Geys, Gommaar Gilliams, Al Held, Torahiro Kojima, Guy Mees, Frans Piens, Johan Van Gheluwe, Jos Verdegem, Pierre Vlerick, Gustave Van de Woestyne.

Roger Raveel Museum: Fred Bervoets, Jean Brusselmans, Jacques Charlier, Anton Cotteleer, Jan Cox, Franky D.C, Thierry De Cordier, Raoul De Keyser, Valerius De Saedeleer, Gust. De Smet, Stefaan Dheedene, Marthe Donas, James Ensor, Alice Frey, Vincent Geyskens, Jacques Lizène, René Magritte, Roger Raveel, Pjeroo Roobjee, Léon Spilliaert, Walter Swennen, Narcisse Tordoir, Luc Tuymans, Edgard Tytgat, Thé van Bergen, Guy Van Bossche, Patrick Van Caeckenbergh, Frits Van den Berghe, Jan Van Imschoot, Herman Van Ingelgem, Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven, Philippe Vandenberg, Jan Vercruysse, Marthe Wéry, Henri-Victor Wolvens, Maurice Wyckaert

Selection of images

Jan Van Imschoot Le fin de l'avenir, 1998 olieverf op doek 60 x 50 cm Privécollectie FrankrijkPhilippe Vandenberg Now Patience Is Flowering Into Death II, 1980-90-99 olieverf en houtskool op canvas 100 x 190 cm Courtesy Estate Philippe Vandenberg

Roger Raveel, Zelfportret met sigaret, 1949 (collectie Roger Raveel Museum - Vlaamse Gemeenschap)

Henri Evenepoel - De kleuter op het balkon - 1896 - olieverf op doek - collectie STEMOscar Murillo disrupted frequencies (detail), 2013–2019 Photo: Matthew Hollow Courtesy the artist

Oscar Murillo disrupted frequencies (detail), 2013–2019 Photo: Matthew Hollow Courtesy the artistDieter Durinck - Narrative Management, Le Corbusier - Nature morte au siphon, 1928, 90 x 70 cm, 2020 - collectie M Leuven def

Raoul De Keyser - Woonkamer - 74,5x95cm - 1969 - privéverzameling - foto Peter ClaeysJenny Montigny De School, 1910 Collectie Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens