Feniks

About

At the moment, it is possible to visit a new solo exhibition by Chris Berens, entitled ‘Feniks’.

The opening of this spectacular show took place on Saturday 7 December and was officially performed by writer / tv-presenter Antoinnette Scheulderman, an admirer of his work. The artist was present.

Especially for this exhibition, Chris Berens created no fewer than fourteen new works (mixed media on canvas), including the monumental ‘Crowning Glory’ (see image). This large work (240 x 220 cm) has a special handmade wooden frame, designed and painted by Chris.

During the opening, all works were sold. The show can be visited until Sunday, December 22.

The Artist

Chris Berens studied illustration at the Academy of Art & Design in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, graduating in 1999. He has developed a complex and time-consuming painting technique, mostly shown as mixed media on panel.

“I’m most comfortable using fine brushes and drawing inks and graphites, but I also regularly use water color paints, markers and acrylics”, Berens says. “For some time now I’ve added digital image making to my line of techniques, meaning 3D sculpting, digital painting and image processing. I combine and mix them with my more traditional media.”

After his first major solo show at Jaski Gallery in 2005, Chris Berens’ fame spread quickly. The young artist has already exhibited all over the world, from Amsterdam to New York, from Tokyo to Los Angeles, Seattle and Singapore. He also designed the cover for Panic of Girls, an album which was released in 2011 by Blondie. Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, founders of the band, are admirers of his work.

Back home Chris has been the subject of a television documentary. Chris Berens, Master of his Magical Universe was made for Dutch broadcaster Avro’s Close Up series in 2013 and has since been broadcast several times at home and abroad.

Chris Berens also featured prominently in the television documentary Krabbé searches for Van Gogh, in which actor/painter Jeroen Krabbé traced the path of Vincent van Gogh in co-operation with Dutch artists.