Galerie P. is presenting "Something Going On," a solo exhibition by Belgian photographer Karel Fonteyne, as part of the Ostend International Photo Biennale 2025. The exhibition, running from September 6 through November 16, 2025, showcases the latest work by one of Belgium's most distinctive photographers, who has been challenging the boundaries of reality through his lens since 1968.
Fonteyne's artistic philosophy centers on the idea that "the image can no longer imagine the real, since it is the real," drawing from Jean Baudrillard's concept that "reality has been expelled from reality." His body of work represents what critics describe as "a labyrinth of solitude, esotericism, and alienating beauty" that not only challenges viewers' perceptions but also questions the fundamental philosophical concept of representation itself.
The photographer's career began unexpectedly when his dreams of attending Roman Polanski's film school shifted toward photography. After completing his studies, Fonteyne debuted with his first art series "I am who I was," but financial pressures led him to commercial work. He relocated to Italy, where he spent 15 years working with complete creative freedom for major international fashion magazines, including Vogue.
In 1994, Fonteyne returned to independent artistic work, viewing this transition not as a rejection of commercial photography but as a natural evolution of his creative philosophy. "I don't photograph what I see, but what I think," he explains, emphasizing that his images function as projections of an inner universe rather than mere prints of the external world. This approach aligns with Baudrillard's theory in "Simulacra and Simulation," which argues that images are no longer tied to their origins but to the networks of meaning they evoke.
Fonteyne's creative process relies heavily on intuition, often beginning with a sudden flash of inspiration. The roots of his imaginative approach trace back to his childhood, where he developed what he describes as an "unbridled imagination." Today, he continues this practice alongside his wife Carine, collecting found objects that fascinate them for various reasons and incorporating them into his artistic vision.
In "Something Going On," Fonteyne explores and transforms the traditional concept of "natures mortes" (still lifes) into dynamic compositions that refuse to remain static. His work creates a space where dream and reality mirror each other and exist on equal footing. By removing objects from their original contexts, much like how a chameleon's skin transforms, Fonteyne allows the meaning of visible elements to shift and evolve, leaving viewers to interpret these new narratives and make them personally meaningful.
The aesthetic quality of Fonteyne's images creates what critics call "the aesthetics of unease," balancing opposing forces such as violence and vulnerability, fragility and strength. These visual paradoxes demand active engagement from viewers rather than passive consumption. Just as Baudrillard criticized the passive submission involved in image consumption, Fonteyne's work challenges audiences to actively produce meaning rather than simply receive it.
The current exhibition, curated by Stephane Verheye as part of the third International Fotobiennale of Ostend, demonstrates how Fonteyne's various fascinations converge in images that hover between dream and wakefulness. In an era where algorithms increasingly dictate perceptions of reality, Fonteyne's work serves as a reminder of imagination's subversive power and its role in challenging established narratives.
The exhibition will be held at Galerie P., located at Kursaal-Oosthelling 8 in Ostend, with viewing hours from Wednesday to Friday, 2 PM to 6 PM, and weekends and public holidays from 11 AM to 6 PM. The official opening reception will take place on Saturday, September 6, at 4 PM, featuring an introduction by curator Stephane Verheye. An exclusive preview for collectors is scheduled for 11 AM on the same day, with reservations available through infogaleriep.be. Additionally, a comprehensive 478-page monograph titled "Spell" on Karel Fonteyne's work has been published by Stockmans Art Books, and during the Fotobiennale Ostend, sister gallery Galerie P. will also feature exhibitions by Valérie Naessens ("La Brise d'Ostende") and Bart Ramakers ("Ex Tenebris Lux").
