An exhibition by the internationally renowned (comic book) artist François Schuiten will open at the Art and Design Productions gallery in Kortrijk on Saturday. The Brussels artist is exhibiting in Flanders for the first time in twenty years.
François Schuiten made a name for himself at the end of the 1970s and in the 1980s with his comic books and graphic novels, such as the series De Duistere Steden, translated in English as The Obscure Cities – in which cities and buildings play the leading role. Trams and trains are also a great source of inspiration for the Belgian artist. His detailed and imaginative drawings soon captured the hearts of readers all over the world.
“He masters the art of drawing the imaginary, a dystopian and at the same time utopian world”
But Schuiten is more than a comic book artist. “He amongst others also designed a metro station in Brussels, stamps, posters and film sets,” gallery owner Hans Soenen of Art and Design Productions told Het Nieuwsblad. For his impressive career, he was granted the title of Baron in Belgium.
Octopus sculpture
For the French city of Amiens, the artist recently designed a massive sculpture of the octopus from the novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas” by author Jules Verne, which was on display for several months at Brussels’ Justice Palace late last year.
A small bronze replica of this octopus, the so-called “Nauti-poulpe”, will be on display at the Kortrijk expo. Visitors will also discover an extensive collection of Schuiten’s graphic works, including screen prints and pigment prints. These are limited editions signed by the artist. Also on display will be prints from his latest book “Compulsion”, the 2020 science fiction novella by Adam Roberts that Schuiten illustrated.
“He masters the art of drawing the imaginary, a dystopian and at the same time utopian world,” said his son Adrian Schuiten, who looks after his affairs, to Het Nieuwsblad. “It’s a form of escape from reality, an invitation to think about the world of tomorrow, a fantastic dream world.”
