Over the past years Karien Vandekerkhove has created a series of works in a variety of media and uses drawing, installation, scale models, objects and photography as her primary modes of expression. Sight, smell, space and undoubtedly 'memory' are regular actors in Vandekerkhove's presented projects. In writing and speaking about her work, she often uses terms like 'almost perfect' and 'sharply clean'.


Ephemeral and transitive in nature, the works are made site-specific as a dynamic combination of cultural concepts and diverse values that challenge traditional boundaries and defy easy definition. 


In her latest project, she wrote a letter to 'The Light', a book presenting a series of serene and subdued photographs as evocations of light that forms an unique tribute to her late father. 
Uk based science journalist Philip Ball’s text accompanies the series of colour photographs that foster thoughtful perspectives on, as Fernando Pessoa says, ‘The dream is to see the invisible forms’. 
by means of a homage to her father.


The official Book Release takes place at Copyright Art & Architecture Bookshop on Friday November 25, 2022 from 7pm – 9pm.

Image credits: © P Roelens, 2022

BIO


STUDIES


  • LUCA School of Arts , Gent BELGIUM (1983-86)
  • Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Gent BELGIUM (1984-1986)
  • Academie Vytvarnich Umenie Bratislava & Praque SLOVAKIA & CZEH REPUBLIC (1986-87)
  • University of New Mexico / Tamarind Institute , Albuquerque USA (1988)
  • Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne AUSTRALIA (1989-90)



EXHIBITIONS I solo


2022 'Dear Light, dearest dearest Light' - Expo & Book opening at Copyright, Gent, Belgium • 2021 Expo 'The Liquids', at VendÔme, Gent, Belgium • 2020/2021 Installation & Expo 'sKinHouse. ed2', Gent, Belgium • 2017 Artist in Residence at DO-SO. Installation & Expo 'sKinHouse. ed3', Fujiyoshida, Japan • 2016 "NECESSITà", object-in-situ @ Surmine's Kijkkamer, Gent , Belgium • "NECESSITà", object-in-situ @ Studio ALPH, Gent , Belgium • 2016 Artist in Residence at Youkobo Art Space. Installation & Expo 'sKinHouse. ed2', Tokyo, Japan • 2014 Artist in Residence at Joya: arte + ecología. Installation 'sKinHouse. ed1' at Cortijada Los Gázquez, Almeria Spain • 2012 > 2007 'Maisons Mouses', Scale models of soap substances on diverse locations and in various climatological circumstances . • 2008 'ANINA Soap Creatories', founded on 080708 is an organization that initiates, supports, and presents a concept based on the substance of a pure matter. • 2006 '1/9 pink baby skin + 8/9 burned charcoal' ( edition 7 / site specific wall painting installation ), Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, Japan • 2005 '1/9 pink baby skin + 8/9 burned charcoal' ( edition 6 / site specific wall painting installation ), Gallery Croxhapox , Gent, Belgium • 2004 '1/9 pink baby skin + 8/9 burned charcoal' ( edition 5 / site specific wall paintin on Grove House, Melbourne, Australia • 2003 '1/9 pink baby skin + 8/9 burned charcoal' (edition1 / site specific wall painting installation ), Chinati Foundation, Marfa TX, Usa • 'Eyes can no be preserved successfully' ( desinfection-liquid drawings ), S&H De Buck, Gent, Belgium • 2000 'Oimactta' ( light installation ) ,Cultureel centrum De Spil, Roeselare, Belgium • 1998 'Schimmen in het festival van de paradoxen' ( multi media installation ), Gallery Croxhapox, Gent , Belgium • 1997 'Locker ant' ( multi media installation ) ,Chinati Foundation, Marfa TX, Usa • 1995 Gallery Maurits Van Laer, Den Haag, Netherlands • 1994 'veel=1&1=veel' ( transparant volumes ) ,Gallery S&H De Buck, Gent, Belgium • 1992 Gallery S&H De Buck, Gent, Belgium • 1988 NH project room, Gent, Belgium • Group Exhibit



EXHIBITIONS I selected group


2006 ' Sequel Basics 2' , Gallery Croxhapox, (B) ' Aanwinsten 2001-2005 , collectie West-Vlaanderen' , CCI Lakenhalle, Ieper, (B) 2005 ' Sequel Basics 1' , Gallery Croxhapox, (B) 2004 ' Voorbij de grens' , CC Hasselt, (B) 2003 'K. Vandekerkhove, H. Hughes and A. Gellatly' , The Old Schoolhouse, Madrid NM (USA) -- 'Me-rooms' , traveling exhibition trough Belgium ( edited by RASA ) -- 'Voorbij de grens' , De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam (NL) - ' Voorbij de grens' , Museum van Deinze en de Leiestreek, Deinze (B) -- 'Grand Tour' , Museum voor Schone Kunst, Gent (B) -- 'Open keukens' , S.M.A.K, Gent (B) 2000 /2001 'Raamwerk' - artist collective, Oostende (B ) -- Gallery Croxhapox, Gent (B) 1998 / 1999 'De muren weten ervan II' , Huis van Allijn, Gent (B) -- Gallery Shiko ( international exchange project ), Tokyo (JAP) -- 'LLL' - Gallery S & H De Buck, Gent (B) 1997 Gallery Moving Space, Gent (B) -- Kunstsalon van Gent , ed.1997 /St Pietersabdij, Gent (B) -- 'Axis' ( by TRA MUNDI ) - Gent (B) & Yoghyakarta & Jakarta & Singapore 1996 'Centenari de La Bohème' , Gallery d'Art Horizon, Girona (Sp) -- 'BEELDding' , De Hallen ,Brugge (B) -- '101 Open deuren ', Gallery Croxhapox, Gent (B) 1994 'The child is my cosmos' , Gallery BKO in collaboration with the Children of the Katlanovo refugee camp in Skopje, Overijse (B) 1993 CC Merksem, Antwerpen (B) -- Rai, Amsterdam (Nl) 1991 Gallery F Massereel , Kasterlee (B) -- Gallery JM Taquet , Brussels (B) -- Gallery Christ Delaet, Antwerpen (B) --Gallery Taller Fort, Cadaques (Sp) -- Gallery Malcolm, Hull (Canada) -- Gallery Très, Kortrijk (B) 1989 Gallery Geo Gijselinck , Kortrijk (B) -- Foyer d'exposition des Chiroux, Luik (B) 1988 De Witte zaal, Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Beeldende kunst Sint Lucas, Gent (B) 1987 Gallery Ipp , Gent (B) 1986 Gallery Campo , Antwerpen (B) 1985 Gallery CC Kortrijk, (B) Aw



AWARDS & PRICES


1986 & 1987 *Scholarship Ministry Flemish Education -TsjechIë & Slovakia 1987 *'Chiroux Jeunes Graveurs',Les Chiroux - Liège (B) 1988 * Scholarship Ministry Flemish Education - University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (USA) 1992 * Grant Ministry Flemish Education - Masereelcentrum Kasterlee (B) 1991 * Prize Jacques De Leger ( honored dist. 1st price ) / De Markten, Brussels (B) 1994 * Grant Ministry Flemish Education / Project: 'Veel =1&1=veel'. 1997 * 'Kunstsalon van Gent ,edition 1997' ( honored dist. 1st price ) / St. Pietersabdij, Gent (B) 1997 & 2003 * Scholarship Ministry Flemish Education 1997 & 2003 * Artist in Residence at the Chinati Foundation, Marfa - Texas (USA) 2007 * Scholarship Ministry Flemish Education 2007 * Artist in Residence at Youkobo Art Center, Tokyo (JAPAN) 2014 * Scholarship Ministry Flemish Education ( Nominee ) 2015 * Ann Huybens Fonds ( Nominee ) 2016 * Artist in Residence at Youkobo Art Center, Tokyo (JAPAN) 2019 * Artist in Residence at Do-So AIR, Fujiyoshida (JAPAN) * Book "Dear Light, dearest dearest Light", selected and admitted on The Belgian Platform for Photobooks (B) 2023 *



COLLECTIONS


Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp - B

Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Brussels - B

Provinciale collectie West-Vlaanderen - B

Provinciale collectie Oost -Vlaanderen - B

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque - USA

Chinati Foundation, Marfa, TX - USA

Lancaster Press Editions, Melbourne - AUST

Joya: arte + ecolgia, Almeria - SP Private collections



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