Hervé Martijn
Hervé Martijn’s years of experience as a painter drive him to the extremes of his technical ability and question the nature of the true-to-life reality that he as an artist should allow to appear on canvas. Giving shape to a painted reality forces him to make artistic choices each time anew. Martijn’s lifelike translation consists in a painted diversity of reproductive possibilities with an inexhaustible and multipliable creative interpretation of a subtle, emotionally charged reality. His world, consisting mostly of beautiful women, is subtly manipulated on canvas by means of creative reinterpretation.
Hervé Martijn’s muses shrink from the viewer’s gaze, or are stripped of their ability to look. A feeling of shame dominates the visible reality of those portrayed. In every painting the face is hidden or averted from the viewer’s judgment. As if the outside world can only observe fragments of a reality that has been made fragile. A visible, emotionally suppressed pain is sublimated in the beautiful reproduction of long, vulnerable suffering. As if recording it on canvas would bear witness to a painted conviction that acceptance is the only way to deal with wounds in life.
A way of being marked for life in paint. A merciless “Ounce” upon a time in a fragile reality.
Sven Vanderstichelen mei 2015 voor MER
Hervé Martijn (Avelgem 1961) Lives and works in Avelgem, België
Education
Koninklijke Academie Voor Schone Kunsten Gent: Monumentale Kunsten Centrale examencommissie Gent : Kunstgeschiedenis
Exhibitions
2015
Artfair Realisme. ism. Galerie Wilms. Amsterdam
‘The Male Figure’. ism. Galerie Wilms . Maison de maitre . Brussels
“De mythe in mij” . Tielrode
“ARTURE” Curator Sven Vanderstichelen. Ressegem
NEW book: OUNCE. MER. Paper Kunsthalle .Text: Sven Vanderstichelen
OUNCE to the eponymous book “OUNCE” : Galerie Dessers Leuven
Art THE HAGUE : ism Galerie WILMS. Den Haag
Kunst@Rode Kruis : Ronse
PAN ism Galerie Wilms Amsterdam
Belgische en Nederlandse kunstenaars “Who is who? ” Galerie De Buck Gent
“Schone kunsten” CACAOFABRIEK Helmond met Caroline Coolen, Peter de Cuypere Tom Liekens, Fik Vangestel, Bert Loerakker
2014
Realisme Artfair ism Galerie Wilms Amsterdam
Introspection . Solopresentatie Galerie Wilms Venlo
“La solitude dans la jouissance” Groepsexpo. S & H De Buck Gent
Portraits and faces : Groepstentoonstelling Galerie Dessers Leuven
Facultyclub ism Navelstrengbloedbank K.U.Leuven
Over klein geluk en tijden van overvloed. Kunstenfestival Watou
Do not compare. Groepsexpo. Art Gallery L.Lefevere Knokke
Art The Hague ism Galerie Wilms DenHaag.
The art of living . Groepsexpo. Galerie Dessers . Leuven
2013
Art at the warehouse ism Galerie Wilms Rotterdam
Opening nieuw pand : Galerie Wilms Venlo
KunstRAI ism Galerie Wilms Amsterdam
Art The Hague ism Galerie Wilms Den Haag
Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness. Galerie Dessers Leuven
2012
Galerie Rasson Art Tournai
The soul of a tree . Groepsexpo. Galerie Dessers Leuven
Kunstbeurs tvv Navelstreng bloedbank K.U.Leuven
Artfair Solopresentatie B-ART Gent
Artfair REALISME ism Galerie Wilms, Amsterdam
2011
Galerie ART SINGEL 100 Amsterdam : Portraits of vulnerability
Galerie Dessers: Mutatis Mutandis Leuven
Galerie Claudine Legrand Paris
Galerie Dessers Hasselt : Poêmes a voir. groepsexpo
2010
Galerie Raison d’Art Lille, Oeuvres récentes
Galerie Ludwig Lefevere Knokke , Intimistische portretten
Kunstbeurs tvv Navelstrengbloedbank K.U.Leuven
Groepsexpo Galerie Claudine Legrand Paris
2009
ART SINGEL 100 Amsterdam
Galerie Ludwig Lefevere Knokke
Open artfair Utrecht
2008
Galerie Anderwereld Groningen
Galerie Claudine Legrand, Pictorial narcism, Paris
Foire Art-Lille, Le Grand Palais, Lille.
Open Artfair, Utrecht
Twee vlaggen één code. Hannemamuseum Harlingen
2007
Galerie Ludwig Lefevere “Ego en alterego” , Knokke
Galerie Dessers, Leuven(with Hans Sieverding)
Art-Madrid Artfair, Galerie Anderwereld
2006
Gal Claudine Legrand,”Vide médian”, Paris
Galerie Post+Garcia, Maastricht
Artfair, Innsbruck
Art gallery Colline-Verte, Borgloon
Galerie De Verbeelding,Groepexpo “Engelen”, Breda
Anderwereld/Katuin, Groepsexpo, Groningen
2005
Galerie De Verbeelding Baarle-Nassau
Artgallery Ludwig Lefevere, Knokke-Zoute
2004
Galerie De Verbeelding, Baarle-Nassau
Artgallery Ludwig Lefevere, Knokke-Zoute
Holland Artfair Den Haag
Art-Laren Laren
ST-ART-foire, Strasbourg
Galerie de Greef & de Greef, Wassenaar
2003
Holland-art-fair Den Haag
ST-ART-foire Strasbourg F
Art gallery Ludwig Lefevere Knokke B
2002
Holland-art-fair Den Haag N
ST-ART-foire Strasbourg F
RAI-kunstbeurs Amsterdam N
2001
ST-ART-Foire Strasbourg F
Galerie Grusenmeyer Sint-Martens-Latem B
RAI-kunstbeurs Amsterdam N
Galerie Brûlée Strasbourg F
2000
ST-Art-Foire Strasbourg F
Tableau de la Troupe , Galerie de Greef & de Greef Wassenaar N
Art sur papier Galerie Brûléé Strasbourg F
RAI-kunstbeurs Amsterdam N