Tom Schenk - As within, so without
Tom Schenk brings with his latest exhibition, ‘As within, so without’, a fascinating collection that delves deeper into a number of recurring themes in his work. In addition to the familiar ‘house’, which is still central to many of his paintings, Schenk now introduces a series of canvases with the theme ‘facade’. These facades, ranging from dilapidated and blackened to overgrown and sometimes even uninhabitable, are an intriguing eye-catcher. One entire wall will be filled from bottom to top with this series of about 15 canvases - a facade full of facades.
Another enduring theme in Schenk's work is the empty landscape. These paintings, which he himself sometimes calls ‘Mindscapes’ or ‘Dreamscapes’, are spaces where the mind can wander freely. Born from his imagination, these landscapes take shape during the painting itself.
Schenk's work also includes what he collectively calls ‘growths’: wild grasses, trees, flowers and other elements of nature, depicted from very close up or from far away, sometimes brought together on one canvas.
What all these different themes have in common is that they fascinate Schenk personally. He invites the viewer into his own world, a world he creates without a preconceived plan. His painting process is guided by impulses and spontaneous decisions such as ‘more yellow’ or ‘the canvas upside down?’. Only afterwards can he say something about the motif and come up with a title for each painting.
A special element in his work is the house, once started as ‘Das blaue Haus’. This central motif in his paintings allows Schenk to live in his own world - a house for the soul and, in a way, a self-portrait. It expresses, often unconsciously, his state of mind. Although he sometimes tries to avoid the house, it always intrudes, as in the canvas ‘Distress Cry’ that he painted just before his heart surgery.
Tom Schenk likes to leave it to the viewer to decide for themselves ‘what they see in it’. Come and experience his unique world in the Mesdag Hall from 26 October to 17 November 2024. Don't miss the opening on 26 October at 17:00!