#190, Ranger Station, 2021, oil on canvas, 100 x 135 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton
Belgian artist Koen van den Broek presents his latest exhibition, Freedom of Shadows, at Gallery Baton in Seoul, running from February 27 to March 29, 2025. Known for his distinctive approach that blends figuration and abstraction, van den Broek invites viewers to reconsider the overlooked geometries and narratives embedded within urban landscapes. This exhibition showcases his signature ability to transform ordinary architectural elements into evocative and layered compositions.
Born in 1973 in Belgium, Koen van den Broek has cemented his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary European painting. His work navigates the delicate balance between realism and abstraction, often focusing on urban spaces designed for functionality—roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and overpasses—reimagining them through a lens that strips away their utilitarian purposes to reveal hidden aesthetic qualities.
Before pursuing a master’s degree in painting, van den Broek studied architecture at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, a background that deeply informs his artistic approach. His fascination with the built environment extends beyond mere architectural appreciation; he deconstructs the rigid forms of urban infrastructure, emphasizing lines, shadows, and empty spaces that typically go unnoticed. His works challenge viewers to see these everyday structures not just as passive backdrops but as dynamic subjects worthy of contemplation.
Mountains, 2024, traffic paint and tar on canvas, 140 x 115 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton
Freedom of Shadows delves into the subtle interplay of light, form, and absence. Van den Broek’s process begins with photographs—often resembling casual snapshots—of mundane urban scenes. However, through his methodical transformation on canvas, these images evolve into near-abstract compositions. His use of color and shadow amplifies the emotional undertones of the spaces, while the absence of human figures intensifies a sense of detachment and contemplation.
One hallmark of van den Broek’s style is his use of Polaroid-like hues and blurred edges, imbuing the works with a nostalgic, almost cinematic atmosphere. Despite their rootedness in real urban settings, the paintings transcend their origins, offering viewers a new spatial experience that oscillates between the familiar and the alien. His manipulation of perspective and form encourages a re-evaluation of the urban landscape, shifting focus from the functional to the poetic.
Bacon, 2023, traffic paint and tar on canvas, 80 x 107 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton
Throughout his career, van den Broek has held solo exhibitions at major European institutions, including De Garage in Mechelen (2020), the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.) in Ghent (2019, 2011, 2010, 2008), Museum of Modern Art Weserburg in Bremen (2016), Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle (2014, 2008), and the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht (2008). His works are housed in prominent international collections, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), S.M.A.K. in Belgium, Antwerp’s M HKA, Korea’s Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, and the Busan Museum of Art.
Currently based in Antwerp, van den Broek continues to refine his exploration of urban aesthetics, dissecting the boundaries between constructed environments and abstract form. Freedom of Shadows offers Seoul audiences a unique opportunity to engage with his vision—where shadows hold as much narrative weight as structures, and where the voids between objects speak volumes about the spaces we inhabit.
The opening reception on February 27, from 5 to 7 PM at Gallery Baton, will offer a chance to delve deeper into the artist’s philosophy and his ongoing dialogue with urban environments. In an era where cities grow increasingly dense and mechanized, van den Broek’s works serve as a reminder of the poetry hidden in plain sight.
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
#190, Ranger Station, 2021, oil on canvas, 100 x 135 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton
Belgian artist Koen van den Broek presents his latest exhibition, Freedom of Shadows, at Gallery Baton in Seoul, running from February 27 to March 29, 2025. Known for his distinctive approach that blends figuration and abstraction, van den Broek invites viewers to reconsider the overlooked geometries and narratives embedded within urban landscapes. This exhibition showcases his signature ability to transform ordinary architectural elements into evocative and layered compositions.
Born in 1973 in Belgium, Koen van den Broek has cemented his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary European painting. His work navigates the delicate balance between realism and abstraction, often focusing on urban spaces designed for functionality—roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and overpasses—reimagining them through a lens that strips away their utilitarian purposes to reveal hidden aesthetic qualities.
Before pursuing a master’s degree in painting, van den Broek studied architecture at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, a background that deeply informs his artistic approach. His fascination with the built environment extends beyond mere architectural appreciation; he deconstructs the rigid forms of urban infrastructure, emphasizing lines, shadows, and empty spaces that typically go unnoticed. His works challenge viewers to see these everyday structures not just as passive backdrops but as dynamic subjects worthy of contemplation.
Mountains, 2024, traffic paint and tar on canvas, 140 x 115 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton
Freedom of Shadows delves into the subtle interplay of light, form, and absence. Van den Broek’s process begins with photographs—often resembling casual snapshots—of mundane urban scenes. However, through his methodical transformation on canvas, these images evolve into near-abstract compositions. His use of color and shadow amplifies the emotional undertones of the spaces, while the absence of human figures intensifies a sense of detachment and contemplation.
One hallmark of van den Broek’s style is his use of Polaroid-like hues and blurred edges, imbuing the works with a nostalgic, almost cinematic atmosphere. Despite their rootedness in real urban settings, the paintings transcend their origins, offering viewers a new spatial experience that oscillates between the familiar and the alien. His manipulation of perspective and form encourages a re-evaluation of the urban landscape, shifting focus from the functional to the poetic.
Bacon, 2023, traffic paint and tar on canvas, 80 x 107 cm, Courtesy of Gallery Baton
Throughout his career, van den Broek has held solo exhibitions at major European institutions, including De Garage in Mechelen (2020), the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.) in Ghent (2019, 2011, 2010, 2008), Museum of Modern Art Weserburg in Bremen (2016), Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle (2014, 2008), and the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht (2008). His works are housed in prominent international collections, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), S.M.A.K. in Belgium, Antwerp’s M HKA, Korea’s Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, and the Busan Museum of Art.
Currently based in Antwerp, van den Broek continues to refine his exploration of urban aesthetics, dissecting the boundaries between constructed environments and abstract form. Freedom of Shadows offers Seoul audiences a unique opportunity to engage with his vision—where shadows hold as much narrative weight as structures, and where the voids between objects speak volumes about the spaces we inhabit.
The opening reception on February 27, from 5 to 7 PM at Gallery Baton, will offer a chance to delve deeper into the artist’s philosophy and his ongoing dialogue with urban environments. In an era where cities grow increasingly dense and mechanized, van den Broek’s works serve as a reminder of the poetry hidden in plain sight.
