Join us for the open studio of our summer Artist-in-Residence Philip Janssens (b. 1980, Lille)
Through his body of work, which makes use of materials and compositions that distort the gaze, Philip triggers the sensory perception of his spectators. This nearly hypnotizing experience places the focus on the relationship between the object and the subject. In extent, Philip is convinced his works actually come to being only in the imagination of the viewer, and therefore stresses the importance of the subjective imprint of the work in personal memory. The fact that his art is difficult to be captured through sight, and even more challenging to be photographed, underlines this ambiguity.
Over the past two months, Philip has continued to work on his series of braided curtains, made from a mysterious and appealing reflective fabric, which either blocks or captures incoming light and appears to remain afloat in the air. Their repetitive patterns hint at diffusion between physical reality and the digital. The intensive process of stitching and braiding the curtains by hand anticipates the meditative and almost transcendental state they exert on their spectators.
In addition, Philip has produced a series of ink black frames consisting of layers of various archival prints, covered with opaque Plexiglas as to obscure (in)sight and stir curiosity with what remains hidden.
Philip Janssens (b. 1980, Lille) studied Philosophy before moving to In-Situ (Site-Specific Installation) at Antwerp’s Academy of Fine Arts. Recent group exhibitions include Art’s Birthday 2018 (M HKA, Antwerp), DARK MATTER GAMES (Sale Docks/Workspacebrussels, Venice), Workspace Brussels. Working Title Situation #4 (Quincallerie Van Der Eycken and Beursschouwburg, Brussels) and Spatial Sublation (WIELS Project Room, Brussels). He also had solo projects such as no needs an another mountain (Ballon Rouge Collective, Brussels), The JOY corner (Szenne, Brussels), Summer Studio (Moonens Foundation, Brussels) and at Platform 102 (Brussels). He previously was an artist-in-residence at AIR Antwerpen, Szenne, Les Brigitinnes, Moonens Foundation and WIELS. Philip receives structural support from the VGC (Flemish Community Commission, http://www.vgc.be)
