“It’s just a painting”. Irony and the ability to put things into perspective came naturally to Joris Ghekiere. What he did take seriously, however, was his lifelong research into the possibilities of painting and the status of the image in our society. With his virtuoso painting style and mastery of materials, Ghekiere liked to lead us up the garden path. Because his images are usually entirely artificial and often contain a ‘wrong’ interpretation of classical ideals of beauty. Motifs are a common thread running through this pseudo-aesthetic: anything from plants, webcam girls and folk dancing to abstract patterns. Ghekiere also critically questioned the importance of the authenticity of his technical mastery by experimenting radically with materials and his working method.
