LMAKprojects is pleased to present Stages by Jowan van Barneveld in his first solo exhibition with the gallery. This new series of paintings continues van Barneveld’s search into the ambiguous realm between Romanticism and Abstraction of either empty stages or landscapes.

Van Barneveld’s work consists of meticulous layering of various shades of acrylic black. These matt colored pieces appear flat yet the white of the canvas peering through creates a grayscale that gives way to a landscape like setting. Their ambiguity in part lies in the subtle differences in tones that make tangible scenes appear abstract, and in part in the seclusion of the composition like a modern still life.

There are four paintings either with empty stages or caverns with Rorschach like compositions and a black podium is built in the gallery. Surrounded by various gradations of black hues, a warmth protrudes that is usually not affiliated to black and hence draws away from the presumption of despair or gloom that usually is associated with the color. Solace, passing and anticipation are embodied by van Barneveld’s work and offer a unique and contemporary view and embrace of Romanticism. The mood is enhanced by the physical presence of the empty podium; silently waiting.

Van Barneveld’s work has regularly been shown and is featured in the collections of the Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht, Netherlands, Museum Het Domein in Sittard, Netherlands and in numerous private collections. His work has been recently shown at Raumfuerkunst Aachen, Germany, Chateau d’Aspremont-Lynden in Rekem, Belgium, and at Tegenboschvanvreden Gallery Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Coinciding with this exhibit a limited variable edition silkscreen, signed and numbered by the artist, is available at the gallery or through our website.