Stephan Vanfleteren dives into the sea in new exhibition at MSK Ghent
The Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) will present a striking new exhibition by photographer Stephan Vanfleteren this autumn. Transcripts of a Sea, running from 20 September to 4 January, is the first time Vanfleteren unveils his fascination with the sea, an obsession he has pursued both artistically and physically over the past five years.
Vanfleteren is best known for his stark black-and-white portraiture and documentary work, but in this new series, he turns his lens toward the sea in all its moods.
From mirror-smooth to stormy, misty to menacing, the images go far beyond traditional seascapes to confront what he calls the sea's "unpredictable wonders".
The photographer has captured the elusive character of the sea in every light and state in what organisers describe as "a dangerous obsession and fluid desire".
His images depict treacherously calm waters, thunderous waves and even a frothing surface resembling a runaway laundry drum. It’s a body of work that testifies to a physical and almost compulsive engagement with his subject.
The exhibition does more than showcase Vanfleteren’s sea imagery: it places his work in dialogue with a range of visual artists, both past and present, who have also been captivated by the sea.
These include Gustave Courbet, James Ensor, Léon Spilliaert, Marlene Dumas, August Strindberg, Victor Hugo, Thierry De Cordier and Rinus Van de Velde. What links them all is not just a shared subject matter but a shared approach: rather than offering pure observation, each artist renders a deeply personal interpretation of the sea.
The result, according to MSK, is “a visually intense story about the allure of water and the interplay between photography and painting”. Visitors will experience the photographer's work alongside marine art spanning five centuries, from the 17th to the 21st century, in a powerful conversation across time and medium.
Vanfleteren will also lead guided tours of the exhibition.
#FlandersNewsService | Photographer Stephan Vanfleteren © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR
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