Artist: Joachim Lambrechts
Exhibition title: From Bad Bats To Fat Cats
Venue: Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca, Spain
Date: March 26 – June 5, 2022
Photography: Grimalt de Blanch / all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
For his new solo show ‘From Bad Bats To Fat Cats’ at Galeria Fran Reus, Belgian artist Joachim Lambrechts has once again created a series of bold monochrome paintings that, as we are used to from his oeuvre, evoke a childlike joy and spontaneity.
Lambrechts never plans his compositions in advance. Instead, he prefers to let the image reveal itself through a free and creative process. Although the series – mainly painted in black and white – expresses a certain restraint, the images retain a strong dynamism that reflects the spontaneous process of the artist. When we zoom in on the surface, we notice the broad, almost aggressive brushstrokes and the many layers of paint from which the works are built and we almost feel the solidified energy that is trapped inside the paintings.
A great source of inspiration for Lambrechts are early cave paintings that, despite their simplistic style, convey complex stories and emotions. In a similar way, the artist has deliberately limited his use of lines to what is absolutely necessary to convey a particular shape or form. All other details have been left out, giving the works a very pure and naive appearance. Almost like a child’s drawing.
“For me, painting is not so much wanting to convey a message, but rather a search for shapes, lines and color and seeing what possibilities they offer me” – Joachim Lambrechts
The title of the show ‘From Bad Bats To Fat Cats’ is a reference to two paintings that can be found in the exhibition, namely ‘Bad Bat’ and ‘Fat Cat’. The title, which is meant to be humorous, summarizes the whole series nicely and reveals something in which the viewer will be immersed. And, more specifically, once the viewer goes into the gallery, they will be able to appreciate a fanciful black and white world that is much more colorful than you might think and where you come face to face with figures ranging from Bad Bats To Fat Cats and everything in between.
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, From Bad Bats To Fat Cats, 2022, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca
Joachim Lambrechts, Badly injured great white shark (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas. 120 x 140 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, Elefante (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 100 x 120 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, Fat Cat (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 150 x 150 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, El Buho en la noche (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 150 x 150 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, Toro Feroz (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 120 x 100 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, Butterflies (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 140 x 120 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, Bad Bat (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 140 x 120 cm
Joachim Lambrechts, Crying matador with a hat to keep the flies away (2022) Oilsticks, oil paint, enamel paint, spray paint and paper pasted on canvas, 120 x 100 cm