Artworks

Klaas Op De Beéck creates a world rooted in slowness and human presence. In an era dominated by mass media and digital communication, he deliberately chooses the sensitivity and deliberate pace of painting. As a counterbalance to a rapidly evolving visual culture, his practice opens up space and time for genuine togetherness.

His work offers an autobiographical perspective on everyday life, exploring the importance of interpersonal connection. The studio becomes a place of encounter, where time spent with friends and loved ones culminates in a painting. Within this isolated, almost heterotopic environment, intimacy, connection, and identity are examined. What does it mean to share time without mediation, and how do the sitters navigate this context? Do they confront the painter directly, or do they retreat into scrolling on their smartphone, listening to an audiobook, or working on their laptop? Their choices - posture, gestures, clothing - contribute to the atmosphere of the work and reflect the spirit of the present day.

As he paints, he observes his sitters closely, searching for the essence of each person. They are not treated as elevated still lifes, but as cherished connections. These slowed-down moments create a dynamic interplay of conversation, listening, and silence. It is a temporary escape from the outside world, foregrounding the bond between painter and model and prompting reflection on its value in the artist’s everyday life.