On Saturday 19 February a retrospective of Michaël Borremans opened in Stuttgart. The more than 100 works on show provide an overview of the characteristic oeuvre of this Flemish artist.

The fact that he has yet another large exhibition abroad illustrates just how fast things are moving for Borremans. The man who used to supplement his income in a furniture shop a few years ago is now making a lightning international career. His works hang in the MoMa in New York and in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, amongst other places.  

People as in a manual

Characteristic of Michaël Borremans’s paintings and drawings are the busts, the subtle, subdued colours and the averted gazes. Borremans himself says that he portrays people as if they were in a manual, like objects. Yet at the same time this detached style is very moving.

Borremans’ great inspiration is the Spanish court painter Velázquez. By using the same technique as this 17^th century artist he initiates a dialogue with history. This makes Borremans’ style academic, but his subject matter gives the end product something surrealistic and sometimes morbid.

Balthazar

In addition to painting and drawing Borremans also makes films and theatre. He thought up the newest video clip for the Kortrijk-based band, Balthazar, for example. 

The exhibition will run till 1 May this year in the Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart.