A lifelong artist, a philosopher and poet in his youth, Swennen gradually became involved in painting until he became one of the most prominent painters of his generation. He remains a rare and secretive figure, even though his long career has been marked by numerous exhibitions in museums and galleries, he has a large following and his influence is decisive for the Belgian scene. We are therefore delighted that Walter Swennen was willing to respond to our invitation and that he has produced an important exhibition of recent works for the gallery.
Yet what can be said about this artist, who cannot be assigned to any school or current, nor can his style or the content of his paintings be effectively described? His iconoclastic tone, with its disconcerting humour, undoubtedly brings him closer to the spirit of Marcel Broodthaers, his youthful friend; his figurative line immersed in a pictorial material that could be described as abstract is reminiscent of the gestures and contents of the German artist Kippenberger. Others have evoked Ryman or de Kooning as well as Ensor... His work, unexpected and offbeat, resists all classification.