Simon Laureyns

BIO | SELECTED WORKS

Simon Laureyns (BE, 1979) uses the art of painting as his base layer of his works, without actually using paint, brushes or a painter’s palette. In order to create his works, this artist exclusively uses recycled materials that have already had their function in our society, by doing this he gives them a new life in and with his artwork.

His ‘8 Ball Paintings’, that are on display, are ready mades that can be perceived and are presented as paintings. The inspiration for these series of works and all handlings that come with it, were created during a game of billiards. Not only the tracks that arise on the table during the game, but also the table itself, for Simon Laureyns refer to how someone makes a painting: the act of taking some distance to get an overview, thinking about the possibilities and the game the artist has to play (in terms of forms, content, on the canvas and in the space) to come to an artwork. Marcel Duchamp also used to skip his painting lessons in the ‘Académie Julian’ in Paris, to go and play billiards. Simon Laureyns thus decided to reuse the canvas of the tables, without changing the format and leaving their entire life of spots, damages and degradation through playing the game and displaying them.

For this exhibition he opted to make an installation consisting out of green, blue and red 8 Ball Paintings, which he gave a female name for each piece. By doing this the artist makes the abstract paintings more personal. The name provides the work a face. This series of works are so deeply integrated in the space that they look like doors. The space between the works is also essential and plays an unmistakable role.
 (text by Inge Braeckman)

CV

Simon Laureyns
Born in 1979
Lives and works in Gent, BE

Education

2003
Degree in Fine Arts: Painting, KASK, Ghent

Solo & Duo exhibitions:

2019

Rover, Galerie Jérôme Pauchant, Paris (FR)
Salon Blanc, One day art project, Oostende (BE)
’Fools from the same kingdom’ Barbé & Urbain Gallery, Ghent (BE)
Rover, Galerie Jérôme Pauchant, Paris, FR

2018
Skinny Dipping, A+B Gallery, Brescia, IT

2017
Artefiera, Bologna, Silvia Hell, Simon Laureyns, A+B Gallery, Bologna, IT
A Million Ways To Die, A+B gallery, Bresca, IT

2016
Silence, Genious at Work, Jérôme Pauchant Gallery, Paris, FR
Art Brussels, Geukens & De Vil, Brussels, BE
SLXM, Geukens & De Vil, Knokke, DE
Even a birch can be real, groupshow curated by Gabriele Tosi:
Silvia Hell, Niccolo Morgan Gandolfi, Simon Laureyns, gallerie Derouillon, Paris, FR

2015
AOTEAROA, Simon Laureyns, Atelier Pica Pica, Loods 12, Wetteren
Bellos Horizontes, Le Cabanon / Vosselare Put, Deinze

2014
Cover Up The Grey, Rossi Contemporary, Brussels

2013
Second Hand Emotions, Rossi Contemporary, Brussels
Fair Enough, Rossi Contemporary, Brussels
Poppositions Off Fair, Brass, Brussels

Group exhibitions :

2018
Zero, Simon Laureyns, Renaud Regnery, Daniel Buren, Galerie Jérôme Pauchant, , Paris, FR
Neighbours vol. 7, Manor Grunewald, Aline Bouvy, Thomas Wacholz, Tom Volkaert, Simon Laureyns, Joris Claes, Theo De Meyer, Jan Colle Gallery, Ghent, BE
The Gathering, Dennis Tyfus, Simon Laureyns, Ann Veronica Janssens, Tamara Van San, Leon Vranken, a.o., Panthera.Today, Brussels, BE
The Last Dance, Felix Kultau, Simon Laureyns, Tamina Amadyar, Stephanie Stein, Manor Grunewald, Mohamed Namou, a.o., Autocenter, Berlin, DE

2017
Memories of an elephant, Tamina Amadyar, Simon Laureyns, Mathis Malling Mortensen, Pierre Knop, Kunsthaus, Essen, DE
CODE Art Fair, Max Frintrop, Simon Laureyns, Tiziano Martini, A+B Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
Fuocoapaesaggio, Curated by Dolomiti Contemporanee
paola angelini, bruno amplatz, mattia bosco, stefano cagol, david casini, elia cantori, irene coppola, davide dicorato, giulia  fumagalli, sandra hauser, sophie ko, simon laureyns, davide mancini  zanchi, tiziano martini, giorgio orbi, giulia pellegrini, nazzarena  poli maramotti, alessandro sambini, sebastiano sofia, mario tomè, elt jon valle, Monte Ricco Fort, Pieve Di Cadore, IT

2016
Monochromes, with Olivier Mosset, Paul Czerlitski, Matthew Feyld, Valerian Goalec, Simon Laureyns e.o., Geukens & De Vil Gallery, Knokke, BE
A Sandbox in the Dessert, groupshow curated by Gabriele Tosi
Silvia Hell, Niccolo Morgan Gandolfi, Simon Laureyns, Bresca IT
Slash, groupshow curated by Gabriele Tosi
Silvia Hell, Niccolo Morgan Gandolfi, Simon Laureyns, Brescia IT

2015
(Idéale) Géographie, groushow curated by Olivier Kosta-Théfaine
Manor Grunewald, Simon Laureyns, SKKI©, Olivier Kosta-Théfaine, Noire gallery, Torino, IT
Slash, groupshow curated by Gabriele Tosi
Silvia Hell, Niccolo Morgan Gandolfi, Simon Laureyns, A+B Gallery, Brescia, IT
Incubate, Simon Laureyns, Manor Grunewald, Schouwburg, Tilburg, NL
(Idéale) Géographie, ohn Roebas, Evan Robarts, Olivier Kosta-Thefaine, Skii, Manor  Grunewald, Samuel François, Antoine Danzeaud, Simon Laureyns, Renato Leotta, Nicolas Pilato, Clement Pascal, Edouard Nardon, Le Moulin Du Roc (CAC), Niort, FR
Volumes, Ralf Dereich, Antoine Donzeaud, Samuel Francois, Max Frintrop, Manor  Grunewald, Donna Huanca, Klaus Kleine, Simon Laureyn, Tiziano Martini, Johanna von Monkiewitsch, Przemek Pyszczek, Philip Seibel, Kasper  Sonne, Keith J. Varadi, Graham Wilson, Isabel Yellin, Cologne, DE

2014
Crox 479 BASED PAINTINGS, Dieter Durinck, Elke Van Kerckvoorde, Jeremie Callens, Julien Meert, Manor Grunewald, Pica Pica, Simon Laureyns, Tim Onderbeke,
Vincent De Roder, Wim De Pauw, Croxhapox, Ghent
Neighbours Vol.1, Max Frintrop, Simon Laureyns, Manor Grunewald, Benoit Plateus, Studio Manor Grunewald, Ghent
The Young Ones, SKI, Ghent

2013
Panorama, Rossi Contemporary, Brussels
De Pictura, Rossi Contemporary, Brussels

2011
Fools from the same Kingdom,  Antwerp

2010
Friendly Fire,
Simon Laureyns, Manor Grunewald
Second Room Simon
Laureyns, Manor Grunewald

2006
Gentlemen Collective
Gallery Chappe Mon-Martre, Paris
Versace showroom, Antwerp

2005
Gentlemen Collective
Limits store exhibition space, Ghent
Library, Landegem