DESPEGAR by Samuel Lemba: IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOXTON BRUSSELS

18 January - 18 March 2024

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FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE TEAM

INFO@DEMAINART.COM I +32 472 12 02 02 (FLORENCE DERCK)
ARTWORKS ON DISPLAY
"Au travers de ses paysages, c'est la trace du temps qui se révèle, une empreinte qui nous invite à nous interroger : que se passe-t-il au-delà de cet horizon, là où notre regard, notre perception, ne peuvent aller ?"
ABOUT PENELOPE

Penelope Deltour is a Belgian artist living and working in Ghent. She has a diverse educational background in illustration, graphic design, and printmaking. She earned a Master’s degree in Illustration from LUCA School of Arts in Ghent (2006–2011) and later expanded her expertise with studies in graphic design at Syntra MVL in Sint-Niklaas (2013–2014). She further honed her skills in printmaking at DKO in Kortrijk (2015–2016) and deepened her knowledge of letterpress through a masterclass at Letterpress Amsterdam in 2018.

Penelope's motivation for making work always starts from an urge of escapism, with the primal force of nature as a facilitator and backdrop to reincarnate this feeling, translating visually into mental reconstructions of this state of mind.

In her diptychs and triptychs she tries to fragment reality even more: the hard cuts formed between the individual panels break the image and create peace.

The works are made restlessly, with a lot of expression, in which the artist likes to let coincidence play a role. The result brings peace of mind to both her and the spectator.
Q&A
GET TO KNOW THE ARTIST BEHIND "DESPEGAR"
In light of the upcoming exhibition, we sat down with Samuel Lemba. Driven by questions about identity, the artist explores different aspects of origins and identification. His work is guided by childhood memories and how they shaped him into the person he is today.

Where do you find your inspiration?

⁠My inspirations come from many, many things and events that I have encountered or experienced throughout my life.

Who are or what is your biggest artistic influences?

At the moment, the person who influences my work is Mark Rothko, and my biggest influence is my childhood.

How do you compose your paintings?

There are generally three or four stages in the composition of my paintings. First there's the subject, the title and the literary meaning of it all, etc... Then comes the collection of images, which I specify can be anything. Once I've enriched them, I start by making a pre-painting sketch, and then I move on to the painting.

What do you want the viewer’s experience of your work to be like?

I want the viewer to project himself into a story, a scene or a moment.

Three words that describe you best?

Stubborn, dreamy, smiling.

What is your dream project? ⁠

Creating a film and writing a book.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

No matter what happens to keep silent.
WHO ARE WE?

DEMAIN was established by two fervent advocates of the Belgian art scene. Florence Derck, is the co-founder of DEMAIN. Recognized among Belgium's '40 under 40', she previously served as the director of Gladstone Gallery Brussels. Before her tenure at Gladstone Gallery, Florence gained valuable experience at Christie's London, a renowned international auction house.

She holds a degree in Business Engineering, which has equipped her with a strong foundation in both business and the arts. In 2022, under her leadership, DEMAIN was honored with the 'Bold Women Future Award' by Veuve Clicquot. Florence's journey in the art world began with entrepreneurial ventures, such as selling keychains along the coast, reflecting her early passion for art and business. Her extensive experience and innovative approach continue to drive DEMAIN's mission to promote and support the next generation of artists.