BEACHE, 2023
- acrylic on canvas
- 110x165cm
The Beach series is based on personal photographs of the North Sea taken by Jan De Vliegher in the evening, backlit, from a pier and from the beach. The compositions are mostly monochrome blue, and the human figures are scattered across the entire surface or seem to be strolling in the backlight, casting a long shadow on the shallow water, between the breakwater and the beach.
The paintings of Jan De Vliegher (born 1964, lives and works in Bruges) are a meeting of abstract movements and figurative perspectives, of expressionistic brushstrokes and impressionistic accents, but above all, of a 'joie de vivre' and a 'joie de peindre'. Since his debut in 1998, he has worked in series based on careful observations of everyday life. The themes range from landscapes, gardens, and beach scenes, to terraces in bird's-eye view and reflections in the water, to architectural elements and display cabinets, opulent interiors and chandeliers, busts, plates, and glasses. He paints quickly and accurately, 'alla prima' or wet-on-wet, and often on a large scale. Inherent in the art of painting, it revolves around image definition, and he develops a contemporary oeuvre with a personal touch using paint material and brushwork. Enthusiasm and intuition are paramount.