The Mosa Mystica exhibition features paintings and drawings created as a result of five years of walking around Broucke’s home in the valley of the Meuse. He observes the seasons, probes global warming, bumps into ancient ruins and hidden caves, takes beautiful stones and relics, and reflects on the meaning of walking and drawing in a maddening world.
Accompanying the exhibition, Broucke composed a handy walking guide/artist's book.
With a contribution of Jean-François Van Mullem
De Halle, Geel (Belgium), 27/4 - 16/2024
Accompanying the exhibition, Broucke composed a handy walking guide/artist's book.
With a contribution of Jean-François Van Mullem
De Halle, Geel (Belgium), 27/4 - 16/2024
Koen Broucke, 'Chômage' of the Meuse, oil on canvas, 2022
‘Mosa Mystica is not a hesitant examination, but an outspoken declaration of love.
(...) A fresh colourist and landscape painter who produces romantic work without soothing, without being lovely. You look along, and become equally amazed by finds on the ground, the light, the seasons, the tranquillity of nature.’
Yvonne Cox
‘Conveying landscapes ‘intimately’, it is not given to every painter.
Your landscapes - even the winter ones - are warm, individual, known, familiar,
even for those who have never seen them.
‘I find you strongest when your colour palette covers only a few, closely spaced, hues,
when the contrast is thus limited -
although, that earth-dark window with the bright white triangle at the top...
I went back to that one about three times anyway.
Hard to get bored of it.’
Ivo Verheyen
‘The viewer who immerses himself in the film and in Broucke's work cannot help but be captivated by the attentive dedication with which the artist approaches and depicts the world. With the wonderment of a child, he delves into the historical layers of the landscape. What he finds and sees, he immortalises in enchanting and layered paintings you can keep looking at.’
Tomas Vanheste
'(...) Every moment of the day, the light is slightly different, forcing the artist to make visual choices. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors such as Joachim Patinir, the inventor of landscape art. But also Félicien Rops, William Turner and Gustave Courbet once set up their easels along these banks of the Meuse in their search for this mystical light. Broucke is in good company.
Broucke's work is steeped in symbolism. The stones represent time, the transience of life. The trees represent growth, resilience and connection. His colour palette reflects the seasons: warm autumn tones, cool spring colours, icy winter blues. Each brushstroke carries a piece of his soul.’
Yves Joris
'A delightful example: your booklet on Mosa Mystica.
Everything is right, word, image, format, ‘look and feel’ …'
Michel Uytterhoeven
(...) A fresh colourist and landscape painter who produces romantic work without soothing, without being lovely. You look along, and become equally amazed by finds on the ground, the light, the seasons, the tranquillity of nature.’
Yvonne Cox
‘Conveying landscapes ‘intimately’, it is not given to every painter.
Your landscapes - even the winter ones - are warm, individual, known, familiar,
even for those who have never seen them.
‘I find you strongest when your colour palette covers only a few, closely spaced, hues,
when the contrast is thus limited -
although, that earth-dark window with the bright white triangle at the top...
I went back to that one about three times anyway.
Hard to get bored of it.’
Ivo Verheyen
‘The viewer who immerses himself in the film and in Broucke's work cannot help but be captivated by the attentive dedication with which the artist approaches and depicts the world. With the wonderment of a child, he delves into the historical layers of the landscape. What he finds and sees, he immortalises in enchanting and layered paintings you can keep looking at.’
Tomas Vanheste
'(...) Every moment of the day, the light is slightly different, forcing the artist to make visual choices. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors such as Joachim Patinir, the inventor of landscape art. But also Félicien Rops, William Turner and Gustave Courbet once set up their easels along these banks of the Meuse in their search for this mystical light. Broucke is in good company.
Broucke's work is steeped in symbolism. The stones represent time, the transience of life. The trees represent growth, resilience and connection. His colour palette reflects the seasons: warm autumn tones, cool spring colours, icy winter blues. Each brushstroke carries a piece of his soul.’
Yves Joris
'A delightful example: your booklet on Mosa Mystica.
Everything is right, word, image, format, ‘look and feel’ …'
Michel Uytterhoeven
Koen Broucke, Morning light with Cyclist, oil on cardboard, 2024
