Koen van den Broek (1973) paints 'landscapes' on the boundary of abstraction and realism: urban outskirts, architectural details, cracks in asphalt, curbstones, a straight road in perspective. He became known for his
Border Paintings, abstracts cropped from architecture or urban situations, with large areas of colour dissolving into one another.
| more
In creating his works Van den Broek draws on the many photographs he took during his travels during the United States. Other sources of inspiration are the history of film and modern and contemporary architecture.
Crack presents the first comprehensive selection of Van den Broek's work over the last ten years and explores his diverse references and methods. Lavishly illustrated and with essays focusing on specific aspects,
Crack gives a nuanced, stimulating view of the work of one of Belgium's most important young artists.
| more
AuthorsWouter Davidts: art and architecture historian, Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
Bik van der Pol: artists, Rotterdam
Dirk Lauwaert: art and film critic, writes for De Witte Raaf and other media
Andrew Renton: art historian, independent curator and director of the Curating Programme at the Goldsmiths, University of London
Merel van Tilburg: art historian, Université de Genève
John C. Welchman: art historian and art critic, Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), USA; wrote about e.g. Mike Kelley, John Baldessari
Metahaven: Amsterdam/Brussel | back