Bendt Eyckermans | The Passenger

Bendt Eyckermans’ (b. 1994, Antwerp, Belgium) paintings are shrouded in a dreamlike, mysterious atmosphere. Within his universe, which is characterized by a muted colour palette, he incorporates elements from his immediate surroundings alongside art historical echoes. His paintings often possess a sculptural dimension through their focus on texture and depth. Family history also plays a major role in his work: Eyckermans comes from five generations of sculptors and craftsmen. The sculptures and objects they left behind remain in the studio where he works today – the former workspace of his predecessors – and their visual language resonates subtly in his paintings. Eyckermans begins with photographs, translating them into paintings through preparatory sketches. The influence of photography and film is evident in his compositions, in which elements are deliberately omitted from the frame. In this way, he interweaves personal and art-historical references with multiple media, resulting in paintings that bear witness to a distinctive and idiosyncratic style.