Painting after Painting – Peinture Contemporaine en Belgique

Painting after Painting explores, through the works of more than 70 artists, the dynamic and evolving landscape of contemporary painting in Belgium, reflecting on its complex history and diverse practices.

Despite being declared dead on several occasions, painting is very much alive. Published to coincide with the eponymous exhibition at the S.M.A.K. museum in Ghent, this catalogue highlights recent developments and trends in this medium in Belgium. Today’s artists refer to motifs and techniques from the past, but they also explore and push the boundaries of the discipline. Some create narrative works that deal with their daily lives, political or social themes, and questions of identity, gender, or representation. Others practise a more abstract or formalist language and explore the relationship between painting and other contemporary forms of visual production.

By challenging artistic boundaries and celebrating the ongoing reinvention of the pictorial medium, Painting after Painting reaffirms the enduring relevance of painting in an ever-changing world.