Jewan Goo
(b. 1994, KR)
Thomas Decuypere: Can’t Stop The Gods from Engineering
Barbé Gallery, Ghent, BE
Thomas Decuypere’s debut solo show at Barbé Gallery in Ghent, Belgium, titled Can’t Stop The Gods From Engineering, is currently on view, presenting a unique exploration of classical themes through the lens of contemporary digital culture, showcasing Decuypere’s ingenious blend of mythology and modern gaming iconography.
Thomas Decuypere, born in 2000 in Kortrijk, Belgium, has rapidly distinguished himself with his meticulous approach to painting. His works incorporate elements from video game culture, redefining traditional landscape and portrait genres with a modern twist. The exhibition reflects on the artist’s personal narrative and his perspective on the evolving relationship between ancient myths and current digital phenomena. Decuypere’s work is characterized by its vibrant realism and attention to detail, drawing parallels between the finely detailed landscapes of the Flemish primitives and the animated worlds of contemporary gaming.
The artist’s integration of gaming graphics not only revisits the visual style of his childhood but also comments on broader cultural shifts. Decuypere uses iconic elements like Mario Bros’s chimneys and stylized clouds to bridge the gap between the digital experiences of his youth and the classical art traditions he studied. Decuypere challenges the distinctions between high and low art further by merging classical mythological themes with the accessible and widely recognized language of video games. This approach revitalizes traditional painting genres and makes them relevant to a contemporary audience.
For more information, please consult Barbé Gallery’s website here.
Last Updated on October 17, 2024
Julien Delagrange
Julien Delagrange (b. 1994, BE) is an art historian, contemporary artist, and the director of CAI and CAI Gallery. Previously, Delagrange has worked for the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels, the Jan Vercruysse Foundation, and the Ghent University Library. His artistic practice and written art criticism are strongly intertwined, examining contemporary art in search of new perspectives in the art world.
Read more from this author archive →
Read More
A Conversation with Lena Keller
Réminiscences
On Kawara: Early Works & Date Paintings
David Zwirner, Paris, FR & London, UK