For Stijn Peeters (Valkenswaard, 1957) his artistic practice is a matter of engagement. He chooses for current social and political themes and often takes news photos as a starting point for his work. In addition he works with personal and contemporary motifs in his paintings, in which he makes use of classical theatrical compositions of old masters such as Théodore Géricault and Charles le Brun.
In Club Solo Stijn Peeters shows, along with drawings and studies, five paintings that capture Peeters process of the past two decades. In his early days he freely associated on the landscape. Later confrontations between human figures – including the painter himself – became a central theme in the work. The current politics, mythological stories and folk prints are a continuous source of inspiration. For example, in the painting Sorgheloos, the mix of a biblical story and current politics form a contemporary narrative. The ‘great artist or prodigal son’ (Stijn Peeters) in the painting is driven and plagued by politicians. Despite this, he continues unperturbed the path he has chosen himself.
People fleeing war, violence and poverty, are a recurring topic in the paintings and drawings of Stijn Peeters. Especially for this exhibition he made a large canvas on the current flow of refugees from Syria and Africa. It shows his dissatisfaction with the policies of European Governments. The endless flow of refugees was to be expected, nevertheless little is done to avoid this escalation.
