Fendry Ekel

donated by OFFICE For Contemporary Art/Fendry Ekel

Some recent solo exhibitions
Metis-NL, Amsterdam 2010
HVCCA, New York 2009, 'Witness. Works on Paper'
Luis Adelantado Gallery, Valencia 2009
OFFICE: Contemporary Art Space, Amsterdam 2007

Some recent group exhibitions
Metis-NL, Amsterdam 2009, 'Higher Ground'
André Simoens Gallery, Knokke 2009, 'Rhetoric Of Doubt'
Neon Parc, Melbourne 2008, 'Double Diplomacy'
Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle 2007, 'CHRONIC, Handmade Nightmares in Red, Yellow and Blue'

Selected publications
M.J.Straus, T.Eeckhout, Fendry Ekel: The Witness, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing 2009
Tristian Koenig, Tanguy Eeckhout, Fendry Ekel, Folkert de Jong: Double Diplomacy, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing 2008
Kitty Zijlmans, Astrid Honold: Chronic: Handmade Nightmares in Red, Yellow and Blue: Dylan Graham, Fendry Ekel, Folkert de Jong, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing 2007

Selected public and corporate collections
Plancius Art Collection, NL • R. Chassin Corporate Collection, US • Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, BE • HVCCA, New York, US • ARC Collection, Amsterdam, NL

This work is in excellent condition. Monogrammed and dated upper right. Framed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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The paintings of Fendry Ekel explore the dark side of human ambition. His monumental, light and layered looking works – acrylic and gouache on paper – are often painted based on black and white photographs, depicting remnants of historic events. By excavating these images from our collective memory, Ekel critically investigates the use of figuration, architecture and art as propaganda for ideology of any kind and confronts himself with the borderline where ethical and aesthetical values are crossing. Ekel is fascinated by the ability of architectonic creations to yield memory. He is intrigued by the way in which buildings and monuments are often used as a confirmation of power to seduce, manipulate and intimidate. His work explores and attempts to fathom the motives underlying this debasement. The artist mostly paints late 20th century buildings, architectural interiors and portraits, conveyed with a minimum of detail and information. As Benjamin Genocchio (New York Times art critic) said about Ekel's 'loose expressionistic realism': 'the content gives you pause for thought, and the economical use of symbolic imagery gives the pictures raw visual force... conveyed with a minimum of detail and information. This makes them seem oddly and mysterious'.

Fendry Ekel was resident artist at the Rijksakademie in 1998-1999.

www.fendryekel.com