Teargas 21 2022
oil on canvas 160×100 cm.
part of a series of paintings of conflicts around the world that were struck down with teargas
into the gathering 1 2021
130×160 cm. oil on canvas
Part of a series of paintings. People are reflected in a dark glass and refers to old church paintings.
Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.
dirk eelen
Belgium
Dirk Eelen is a dedicated artist known for his exploration of themes using 8mm films and photographic material as inspiration for his paintings. His work, often figurative, focuses on portraits, nature, and the horrors of the Syrian war. Eelen’s technique is influenced by 17th-century masters, with smooth oil paintings on canvas that reference the tenebrist style, featuring dark backgrounds and strong lighting.
Born in 1974 in Leuven, Eelen studied archaeology at KU Leuven University before pursuing his passion for painting, earning a master’s degree in Visual Art from Sint-Lukas Brussels. He has been a full-time painter since 2004.
His solo exhibitions include "Into the Gathering" (2021) and "Fair Encounters" (2019) in Brussels, "Shallow Waters" (2019) and "Nuit debout" (2018) in Antwerp, and "Syria – as seen on YouTube" (2013) in Brussels. He has also participated in numerous group exhibitions in Belgium and internationally.