Author(s): Ben Sledsens

Art

Stunning monograph on the colorful universe of artist Ben Sledsens. Artist Ben Sledsens (b. 1991) combines an in depth knowledge of the visual tradition with his own mythology. With his large-scale canvases, he shows us fragments from his imaginary world, a Utopia in which he himself wants to live. His colors and reinterpretations of the landscape are reminiscent of artists such as Henri Matisse, Pierre Bonnard, Claude Monet, Henri Rousseau and Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Although his landscapes, portraits, and historical and daily scenes have an idyllic appearance, there is also a certain tension and mystery in his scenes. He always builds up his compositions around a moment of climax with an open beginning and end. By reusing motifs, themes, objects and poses, Sledsens creates an intriguing puzzle of references and builds a recognizable, coherent, romantic and utopian oeuvre. This publication bundles Sledsens' most recent work, from 2018 to the present. With text contributions by Herwig Todts (curator modern art KMSKA, Antwerp) and Stefan Weppelmann (director Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig). Text in English, French, Dutch, and German.