Jonas Vanderbeke is a visual artist based in Ghent, Belgium.
T +32 495 69 28 44
E jonas.vanderbeke@gmail.com
Visit my studio or find me on Instagram.
“color can also be fun.”
Out of film, literature and the visual canon, Jonas distills images which used to represent beauty, still pass as such or are by now considered kitsch. He turns these into collages and paintings. Certain recurring motifs characterize his work; Symbols of transiency, for example. Flowers, heros and animals are recurring themes as well, but the composition doesn’t make it clear whether they open or close the space on the canvas.
These icons are displaced and disrupted. They lose their usual meaning and are disconnected. They no longer reference in the way they did before. They unleash a game, one that obscures and hides at the same time, makes old symbols unfamiliar or anew. Materiality, image and connotation start to contrast one another. The exuberant colors and images are immersed in a kind of darkness. It appears as if the work turns inwards, announces a later one or prepares for metamorphosis.
Out of the tension between graphic perfection and human imperfection, between a body and its cultus, craft and industry, new images arise time and time again. The beholder has to adjust its gaze each time. Jonas’s research is characterized by a sharp aestheticism that culminates in a celebration of the artificial, of a contrastful coherence, of painting that holds a mirror to itself.
These icons are displaced and disrupted. They lose their usual meaning and are disconnected. They no longer reference in the way they did before. They unleash a game, one that obscures and hides at the same time, makes old symbols unfamiliar or anew. Materiality, image and connotation start to contrast one another. The exuberant colors and images are immersed in a kind of darkness. It appears as if the work turns inwards, announces a later one or prepares for metamorphosis.
Out of the tension between graphic perfection and human imperfection, between a body and its cultus, craft and industry, new images arise time and time again. The beholder has to adjust its gaze each time. Jonas’s research is characterized by a sharp aestheticism that culminates in a celebration of the artificial, of a contrastful coherence, of painting that holds a mirror to itself.
Education
2015-2017
Teacher certification in the arts,
School of Arts KASK, Ghent
2014-2016
Master of Fine Arts,
School of Arts KASK, Ghent
2011-2014
Bachelor of Arts, Painting,
School of Arts KASK, Ghent
Minor in Graphics ,
Minor in Textile Design
Exhibitions
2022
• Art for Christmas II, Group exhibition, curated by Thomas Renwart & Femke Vandenbosch, Ti-Pi, Ghent, BE.
• Mmmonk, Group exhibition, Biekorf Library, Bruges, BE.
• Primo D'allinzio, Group exhibition, BROEI, Geraard de Duivelsteen, Ghent, BE.
• Summerbar during 8th Biennial of painting, Venus’ Comets, Project together with Duvel, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Sint-Martens-Latem, BE.
• Greetings from Jupiter, Solo exhibition, Studio 23, Ghent, BE.
• The red sun is high, the blue low, Solo exhibition, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
2021
• Art for Christmas, Group exhibition, curated by Thomas Renwart & Femke Vandenbosch, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
• LUSTRUM - KVDM 2016-2021, Group exhibition, Zebrastraat, Ghent, BE.
• Zomersalon 2021 Buy Local, Group exhibition, Kunsthal, Ghent, BE.
• Naft, Group exhibition, SteM Zwijgershoek, Tentoonstellingszaal, Sint-Niklaas, BE.
• Jonas Vanderbeke x De Hoorn, Solo exhibition, Kunst in Huis Leuven, De Hoorn, Leuven, BE.
2020
• Summertime, Group exhibition, Lieve Lambrecht Galerie en beeldentuin, Merendree, BE.
• Zomersalon 2020 Buy Local, Group exhibition, Kunsthal, Ghent, BE.
• Ballroom Project #2, online Group exhibition, ballroom-project.be.
• The 4 Gate Connection, Group exhibition, Tatjana Pieters Gallery, Ghent, BE.
2019
• The Hermit Crab & the Gastropod, Group exhibition, curated by Tatjana Pieters, BAD, Floraliënhal, Ghent, BE.
• KVDM October, Solo exhibition, xyz-lounge, Zebrastraat, Ghent, BE.
• Summertime, Group exhibition, Lieve Lambrecht Galerie en beeldentuin, Merendree, BE.
• Inter omnia saga, Solo exhibition, curated by Els Wuyts, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
• The soft side, Group exhibition, Sint-Amanduskapel, CAMPO SANTO, Ghent, BE.
2018
• Zomergasten, Group exhibition, Lieve Lambrecht Galerie en beeldentuin, Meredree, BE.
• Stimulans '18, Group exhibition, paardenstallen, BUBOX, Courtray, BE.
2017
• Inhabitant body, Group exhibition, Schipperskapel, Bruges, BE.
• Fill up that back seat., Group exhibition, OPEL garage Regniers, Ghent, BE.
• Just Married, Group exhibition, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
2016
• Masters Salon, Group exhibition, Anciens Etablissements Vanderborght, Brussels, BE.
• Masters Salon, Group exhibition, Lange Zaal, Royal Academy of Fine arts, Antwerp, BE.
• Graduation Show KASK, Group exhibition, KIOSK & Kunsttoren, KASK, Ghent, BE.
• Artagon, Group exhibition, Passage de Retz, Paris, FR.
• Tumult in Ghent #4, Group exhibition, KERK and Zwarte zaal, KASK, Ghent, BE.
• The Saint, the Fox and their Dictionary, Group exhibition, Rio De Janeiro, BR.
2015
• iD-eST, Sint-Amanduskerk Bekegem, Group exhibition, Bekegem, BE.
• De Biënnale van België, Group exhibition, In de Ruimte, Ghent, BE
• 7+1, Tis Gank, Group exhibition, Kunstacademie Tielt, BE.
2014
• Kaai1, Group exhibition, Kaai1, Courtray, BE.
• NOW YOU ARE HERE, Group exhibition, NVT galerie, Ghent, BE.
2013
• Concordia Concours, Group exhibition, PAK, Gistel, BE.
Publications
2021
• Art Ist Bunch, Artist book, NUCLEO publication.
2019
• The Art Couch Belgium, Magazine #4, interview.
2018
• Biënnale Stimulans, Stimulans Kortrijk 2018, Catalogue.
2016
• Masters Salon Painting, KoMASK, Catalogue.
• School of Arts KASK, Graduation 2016, Catalogue.
2015-2017
Teacher certification in the arts,
School of Arts KASK, Ghent
2014-2016
Master of Fine Arts,
School of Arts KASK, Ghent
2011-2014
Bachelor of Arts, Painting,
School of Arts KASK, Ghent
Minor in Graphics ,
Minor in Textile Design
Exhibitions
2022
• Art for Christmas II, Group exhibition, curated by Thomas Renwart & Femke Vandenbosch, Ti-Pi, Ghent, BE.
• Mmmonk, Group exhibition, Biekorf Library, Bruges, BE.
• Primo D'allinzio, Group exhibition, BROEI, Geraard de Duivelsteen, Ghent, BE.
• Summerbar during 8th Biennial of painting, Venus’ Comets, Project together with Duvel, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Sint-Martens-Latem, BE.
• Greetings from Jupiter, Solo exhibition, Studio 23, Ghent, BE.
• The red sun is high, the blue low, Solo exhibition, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
2021
• Art for Christmas, Group exhibition, curated by Thomas Renwart & Femke Vandenbosch, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
• LUSTRUM - KVDM 2016-2021, Group exhibition, Zebrastraat, Ghent, BE.
• Zomersalon 2021 Buy Local, Group exhibition, Kunsthal, Ghent, BE.
• Naft, Group exhibition, SteM Zwijgershoek, Tentoonstellingszaal, Sint-Niklaas, BE.
• Jonas Vanderbeke x De Hoorn, Solo exhibition, Kunst in Huis Leuven, De Hoorn, Leuven, BE.
2020
• Summertime, Group exhibition, Lieve Lambrecht Galerie en beeldentuin, Merendree, BE.
• Zomersalon 2020 Buy Local, Group exhibition, Kunsthal, Ghent, BE.
• Ballroom Project #2, online Group exhibition, ballroom-project.be.
• The 4 Gate Connection, Group exhibition, Tatjana Pieters Gallery, Ghent, BE.
2019
• The Hermit Crab & the Gastropod, Group exhibition, curated by Tatjana Pieters, BAD, Floraliënhal, Ghent, BE.
• KVDM October, Solo exhibition, xyz-lounge, Zebrastraat, Ghent, BE.
• Summertime, Group exhibition, Lieve Lambrecht Galerie en beeldentuin, Merendree, BE.
• Inter omnia saga, Solo exhibition, curated by Els Wuyts, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
• The soft side, Group exhibition, Sint-Amanduskapel, CAMPO SANTO, Ghent, BE.
2018
• Zomergasten, Group exhibition, Lieve Lambrecht Galerie en beeldentuin, Meredree, BE.
• Stimulans '18, Group exhibition, paardenstallen, BUBOX, Courtray, BE.
2017
• Inhabitant body, Group exhibition, Schipperskapel, Bruges, BE.
• Fill up that back seat., Group exhibition, OPEL garage Regniers, Ghent, BE.
• Just Married, Group exhibition, BLANCO, NUCLEO, Ghent, BE.
2016
• Masters Salon, Group exhibition, Anciens Etablissements Vanderborght, Brussels, BE.
• Masters Salon, Group exhibition, Lange Zaal, Royal Academy of Fine arts, Antwerp, BE.
• Graduation Show KASK, Group exhibition, KIOSK & Kunsttoren, KASK, Ghent, BE.
• Artagon, Group exhibition, Passage de Retz, Paris, FR.
• Tumult in Ghent #4, Group exhibition, KERK and Zwarte zaal, KASK, Ghent, BE.
• The Saint, the Fox and their Dictionary, Group exhibition, Rio De Janeiro, BR.
2015
• iD-eST, Sint-Amanduskerk Bekegem, Group exhibition, Bekegem, BE.
• De Biënnale van België, Group exhibition, In de Ruimte, Ghent, BE
• 7+1, Tis Gank, Group exhibition, Kunstacademie Tielt, BE.
2014
• Kaai1, Group exhibition, Kaai1, Courtray, BE.
• NOW YOU ARE HERE, Group exhibition, NVT galerie, Ghent, BE.
2013
• Concordia Concours, Group exhibition, PAK, Gistel, BE.
Publications
2021
• Art Ist Bunch, Artist book, NUCLEO publication.
2019
• The Art Couch Belgium, Magazine #4, interview.
2018
• Biënnale Stimulans, Stimulans Kortrijk 2018, Catalogue.
2016
• Masters Salon Painting, KoMASK, Catalogue.
• School of Arts KASK, Graduation 2016, Catalogue.