Marijke De Roover and Philip Janssens

8 April—20 May 2022

Philip Janssens, The Meaning of History & More Meaning of History, 2022, variable dimensions, retro reflective fabric
Marijke De Roover, do you believe in life after love?, 2022, video, 23:42 min
Marijke De Roover, do you believe in life after love?, still
Marijke De Roover, do you believe in life after love?, still
Philip Janssens, Fountain of Fire and Miracles, 2022, pvc, cobblestone, led, copper currency, submersible pumps, water, unique
Philip Janssens, Fountain of Fire and Miracles, detail
Philip Janssens, Papa Stalin, 2021, 46 x 62 x 2 cm, Xerox, persplex, aluminium
Marijke De Roover, do you believe in life after love?, still

For Violet’s inaugural exhibition artists Marijke De Roover and Philip Janssens take over the space.
Both artists operate in and around a digitized world. This offers them a playground for experiment and confrontation.

Phillip Janssens uses the means and materials of technology to interact with the viewer. Exploring the game of perception, deception and imagination he questions the fundamentals of the image. Janssens distorts the meaning of objects. Often these objects — such as money or cars — come with a certain cultural value. Sometimes they are rather abstract like light or color. In recent work, Janssens uses a reflective textile that, after an intense process of weaving and sewing, acquires amorphous shapes that reflect light, creating an alienating experience.

Marijke De Roovers work centers around the self, both disguised and exposed in contemporary internet culture. The self and its captive freedoms in the age of digital capitalism. The self as a facade and battlefield for attention and failure and hence disappointment in a grotesque, vulgar or pathetic staged world. In the film ‘do you believe in life after love?’ De Roover — in her characteristic disguises — performs the roles of those who remember her legacy upon her death. Marijke De Roover dances frolicking with Weltschmerz to the tones of a tragicomic autobiographical aria with no expectations of receiving applause.

Exhibition until 20 May 2022