Katrien De Blauwer -She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (37), 03.06.2021

Katrien De Blauwer

she won't open her eyes

27/11/2021

29/01/2022

Gallery FIFTY ONE

Opening reception: Saturday, November 27th 2021 from 2 – 6 pm, in the presence of the artist!

In her third solo exhibition at Gallery FIFTY ONE, Katrien De Blauwer (Belgium, 1969) takes the viewer on a journey between dream and reality. With ‘she won’t open her eyes’, the artist adds a remarkable concept series to her oeuvre, filled with formal experiments that mark a shift in her imagery.

The work of Katrien De Blauwer is always partly autobiographical. Although she uses material taken from vintage magazines and turns it into anonymous and universally recognizable images by cutting out the faces, she reassembles and appropriates this found imagery into a new, very personal narrative that is far removed from its original meaning. Created in a spontaneous and intuitive manner – mainly guided by her own emotions – De Blauwer’s photomontages depict her personal life story and memories. In a same way, the series ‘she won’t open her eyes’ found its roots in a personal experience, arisen in a period in which the artist experienced a lack of sleep and started to reflect about the concept of sleep and dreams. A book she read at the time – ‘The House of the Sleeping Beauties’ (1961) by the Japanese writer and Nobel prize winner Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972) – would eventually become the starting point of this new exhibition.

Read the full press release here.

View a full overview of the exhibited works here.

Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (15), 04.03.2021, Collage, 20 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (54), 09.05.2021, Pencil on collage, 23 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (96), 28.07.2021, Pencil on collage, 23 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (54), 05.08.2021, Collage, 21 x 13 cm

Katrien De Blauwer

Katrien De Blauwer was born in 1969 in the small provincial town of Ronse in Belgium. After a troubled childhood, she moved to Ghent at a young age to study painting. Later De Blauwer attended the Royal Academy of Antwerp to study fashion. Although she would never finish her fashion studies, it was at that time that De Blauwer made her first collage books; studies and mood boards for fashion collections. These ‘notebooks’, as she would later call them and which she keeps to this day, are filled with sketches, image and text fragments and quotes taken from books, newspapers and magazines. They bring together various influences from literature, art, music, fashion, cinema, etc., which ultimately permeate her artistic work. After her studies, De Blauwer began collecting, cutting and recycling images as a way of therapeutic self-examination, a practice she is still developing today.

biography

Born in Ronse, Belgium in 1969
Lives and works in Ronse, Belgium

Visit artist website here.

Katrien De Blauwer - Colored scenes (15), 29.11.2016, Collage, 13 x 11 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Scenes (266), 24.06.2020, Collage, 12,5 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Scenes (266), 24.06.2020, Collage, 12,5 x 10 cm

De Blauwer collects and recycles photographs from vintage magazines and papers. She calls herself a ‘photographer without a camera’; the cut of her scissors being comparable to clicking the shutter release, with which she determines what remains visible from the original image and what not. She cuts out vital pieces of information essential to understanding the initial context of the image, such as faces and gazes, or interrupts characters in their movements, creating tension and mystery. In this so-called post-photographic process she then glues, assembles, wrinkles, folds and tears the found imagery, merges one or more separate images and combines them with mute colour strips and monochrome pieces of paper the artist collects from old books. Lately she also started to draw and paint on her works, often in a deliberately naive manner.

De Blauwer has a very spontaneous and intuitive working process, in which she mainly lets herself be guided by her own emotions. Although she uses found materials and turns it into anonymous and universally recognizable images that are far removed from their original meaning, her work is at the same time always partly autobiographical. She reassembles and appropriates the imagery into a new narrative that depicts her personal life story and memories. Still, however intimate her photomontages may be, everyone can relate to them. She thus gives new life to what is residual, saving it from destruction and granting it a new life and meaning by including it in a personal and at the same time universal story.

The way in which multiple image fragments from different contexts are brought together in a narrative whole, also renders De Blauwer’s work very cinematic. References to film are always present in her oeuvre. Not only because of the film noir and nouvelle vague-like atmosphere that permeates her work – with constant references to films of great directors as Antonioni and Godard – but also because of the way in which the ‘cut’ determines what is left visible of a certain scene. With this technique – similar to that of the photomontage or film editing – the artist creates a kind of off-screen event, which was removed from the frame but is still tangible, bringing about an alienating sense of emptiness and separation. It makes De Blauwer a master in composition and suspense. Her works often read like film scripts, a narrative line which is continued in the layout of her exhibitions, in which she carefully uses the sequencing of her works to tell a broader story to the viewer.

It’s a story is populated by almost exclusively female protagonists. With their bare shoulders, elegant hands and silent lips, De Blauwer’s women possess a great beauty and sensuality. They often experience intense emotions; they long, yearn, are afraid or lonely. The emphasis on the emotional world of her feminine characters, adds to the fragile and intimate nature of De Blauwer’s body of work. It’s a red line that runs through her oeuvre, across her different themes and series. However, her visual language continues to evolve. Although she is known for her purified compositions, in which she works towards emptiness and abstraction even, lately she allows more visual information to accumulate within one frame.

Katrien De Blauwer - Colored scenes (16), 09.09.2016, Collage, 12 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Colored scenes (16), 09.09.2016, Collage, 12 x 10 cm
Film KDB ZARA - Marnik Alfons Boekaerts
Katrien De Blauwer x Zara Home, film by Marnik Alfons Boekaerts
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (02), 30.01.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (02), 30.01.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (19), 20.07.2022, Pencil on collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (19), 20.07.2022, Pencil on collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (11), 2023, Fine art print on Hahnemühle rag paper, 92 x 62 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (3), 05.05.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (16), 30.01.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (16), 30.01.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (6), 07.10.2022, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (6), 07.10.2022, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (13), 05.05.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (13), 05.05.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (12), 23.05.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (12), 23.05.2023, Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Orange scenes (2), 2023, Collage, 31 x 25 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Orange scenes (2), 12.01.2018, Collage, 31 x 25 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (08), 07.10.2022 Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - He loves me...He loves me not... (08), 07.10.2022 Collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Grey scenes (43), 05.05.2020, Collage, 31 x 25 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Grey scenes (43), 05.05.2020, Collage, 31 x 25 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (4), 28.10.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (4), 28.10.2021, Collage, 23 x 15,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (33), 07.09.2022
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (33), 07.09.2022, Collage, 23,5 x 12,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (5), 28.10.2021, Pencil on collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (5), 28.10.2021, Pencil on collage, 38,5 x 31 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (14), 28.10.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - whilst waiting (14), 28.10.2021, Pencil on collage, 27 x 15 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark scenes (168), 13.03.2016, Collage, 31 x 25 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark scenes (168), 13.03.2016, Collage, 31 x 25 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (107), 24.06.2020, Collage, 20 x 15 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (107), 24.06.2020, Collage, 20 x 15 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (109), 10.02.2021, Collage, 19 x 14 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (109), 10.02.2021, Collage, 19 x 14 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (114), 30.01.2020
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (114), 30.01.2020, Acrylic paint on collage, 18 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (65), 23.01.2020
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (65), 23.01.2020, Collage, 18 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - When I was a Boy (73), 07.03.2017
Katrien De Blauwer - When I was a Boy (73), 07.03.2017, Collage, 13 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (21), 25.10.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (21), 25.10.2019, Acrylic paint on collage, 18 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (27), 14.01.2020
Katrien De Blauwer - Commencer (27), 14.01.2020, Collage, 18 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark scenes (112), 13.10.2016, Collage, 10,5 x 12,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark scenes (112), 13.10.2016, Collage, 10,5 x 12,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - When I was a Boy (6), 13.10.2016
Katrien De Blauwer - When I was a Boy (6), 13.10.2016, Collage, 10 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark Scenes (136), 02.04.2017, Collage, 11 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark Scenes (136), 02.04.2017, Collage, 11 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (110), 29.10.2021, Acrylic paint on collage, 20 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (110), 29.10.2021, Acrylic paint on collage, 20 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin 111, 24.06.2020
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (111), 24.06.2020, Collage, 22 x 11 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin 113, 10.02.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (113), 10.02.2021, Collage, 18 x 14 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (81), 09.06.2017, Collage, 22 x 14,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - loin (81), 09.06.2017, Collage, 22 x 14,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (96), 28.07.2021, Collage, 23 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (96), 28.07.2021, Collage, 23 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (99), 05.08.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (99), 05.08.2021, Collage, 23 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (79), 28.05.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (79), 28.05.2021, Collage, 34 x 12 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (26), 19.11.2020, Collage, 17 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (26), 19.11.2020, Collage, 17 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (40), 14.01.2021, Collage, 19 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Sleeping beauties (40), 14.01.2021, Collage, 19 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (82), 17.06.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Dreams (82), 17.06.2021, Collage, 31 x 12 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dream Scenes (16), 08.05.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - Dream Scenes (16), 08.05.2021, Collage, 18 x 14 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Sleeping Beauties (33), 05.05.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - Sleeping Beauties (33), 05.05.2021, Collage, 20 x 13 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroid (45), 16.01.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroid (45), 16.01.2021, Collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroid (123), 31.01.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroid (123), 31.01.2021, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer -She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroids (23), 15.01.2021, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer -She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroids (23), 15.01.2021, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroids (56), 27.01.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - She won't open her eyes/ Fake polaroids (56), 27.01.2021, Collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (22), 24.04.2020
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (22), 24.04.2020, Pencil on collage, 16,5 x 11 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (36), 12.06.2020, Pencil on collage, 16,5 x 11,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (36), 12.06.2020, Pencil on collage, 16,5 x 11,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark Scenes (158), 28.10.2016
Katrien De Blauwer - Dark Scenes (158), 28.10.2016, Collage, 13 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Blue scenes (52), 26.02.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - Blue scenes (52), 26.02.2019, Collage, 13,5 x 9,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - dirty scenes (55), 01.01.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - dirty scenes (55), 01.01.2019, Acrylic paint on collage, 13,5 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Scenes (220), 14.09.2017, Collage, 13,5 x 10 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (39), 24.03.2020
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (39), 24.03.2020, Collage, 15,5 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Painted Scenes (68), 22.11.2018
Katrien De Blauwer - Painted Scenes (68), 22.11.2018, Acrylic paint on collage, 14 x 10,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (40), 10.02.2021
Katrien De Blauwer - à quoi pensez-vous (40), 10.02.2021, Pencil on collage, 16,5 x 12,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - red scenes (22), 05.01.2018, Collage, 13 x 10,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - red scenes (22), 05.01.2018, Collage, 13 x 10,5 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (10), 29.08.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (10), 29.08.2019, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (5), 29.08.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (5), 29.08.2019, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (18), 18.10.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (18), 18.10.2019, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (11), 23.08.2019
Katrien De Blauwer - Fake polaroids (11), 23.08.2019, Pencil on collage, 11 x 9 cm