Meessen De Clercq: Bridging Time and Vanity
Gallery Meessen De Clercq explores the relation of a Dutch Golden Era painting and the gallery’s contemporary artists at Brussels Art Fair BRAFA on 23–31 January 2016.
Gallery Meessen De Clercq’s selection of art at Brussels Art Fair BRAFA shows links between ancient and contemporary art by building it’s setting as a dialogue between a Dutch Golden Era still life painting and the gallery’s contemporary artists.
The 1642 Dutch painting Willem Claesz Heda is a typical still life of its days: beverages, oysters and nuts are displayed in a variety of tableware items. Allegories of the shortness of life, time passing and corruption are all present in the technically skilful painting.
Meessen De Clercq juxtaposes the Dutch painting with works by international, contemporary artists Claudio Parmiggiani, Fabrice Samyn, José María Sicilia and Hreinn Fridfinnsson. The setting bridges time and the themes of the works: importance of living fully through one’s existence is a topic constantly discussed by contemporary artists. •
BRAFA – Brussels Art Fair at Tour & Taxis, Avenue du Port 86 C, Brussels, Belgium, from 23–31 January 2016.
Main image
Claudio Parmiggiani: Untitled (1997).
Pigment, butterfly, stone.
Size 35 x 17 x 23 cm.
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