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13 february 2024, Flor Linckens

Last chance: Amber Andrews’ ode to the flâneuse

Flâneuse, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde

Until 18 February, you can view a solo exhibition by Amber Andrews in the Nieuw Zuid space of Gallery Sofie Van de Velde. The Antwerp-based artist is acclaimed for her technical skills, compositions and use of colour. In her practice, she intertwines figurative and abstract elements in often large-scale works. Her style and approach are constantly evolving, and the artist resists being categorised.

Andrews studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and was hailed by the Belgium newspaper Het Nieuwsblad (2021) as one of the "prodigies" that the institution has produced in recent years. The artist grew up in Antwerp in an environment in which art played a central role. As a child, she spent much time with her uncle, painter Nick Andrews, and aunt, sculptor Nadia Naveau.

Amber Andrews, She has been there, 2023, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde

Amber Andrews' practice is deeply inspired by art history, and her layered and sometimes enigmatic paintings often serve as an intellectual puzzle. Andrews: "I don’t think you can ignore art history. As a contemporary artist it’s impossible to shield yourself from your contemporaries, let alone your predecessors. Everything starts with a love for painting, its history and key players, but simultaneously, it’s also a technical education to study their works. You try to find out what difficulties they encountered and you analyse their solutions.”

At the same time, the artist draws inspiration from the news, societal issues, her everyday life, films, literature (including the work of Virginia Woolf), the studios of famous artists, and the objects in her home and studio — some of which also make their way into the exhibition space. The titles of her works often stem from a small archive that the artist has compiled over time, ranging from song lyrics that touch her to quotes from strangers and family that she overhears. But Andrews hopes that visitors will bring their own interpretations to the work.

Amber Andrews, Mother weeping, 2024, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde

'Flâneuse', her new exhibition at Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, reflects Andrews' recent exploration of the female experience within the concept of the flâneur — a well-to-do man who wanders through the city without a clear purpose, often with the desire to be noticed, observing urban life without actively participating in it. It's a term that traditionally carries masculine connotations and has been explored by the likes of Charles Baudelaire and Walter Benjamin. Andrews is interested in the female perspective but goes beyond merely re-projecting the term. Her work pays tribute to the quiet moments that arise from these wanderings, and she uses sculptures and statues to stake a claim in public space. In this alternative reality, statues come to life and women of flesh and blood turn to stone.

In her drawing “Mother weeping”, that is shown in the exhibition, Andrews centers suffering in the world. On Instagram she elaborates: “The woman’s body becomes a poignant metaphor for Mother Earth, burdened by the weight of climate change, the scars of war, and the forced displacement of people fleeing their homes. As I sketch the contours, I reveal the devastating impact of environmental degradation etched across her skin. War-torn regions are depicted as open wounds, vividly portraying the pain inflicted upon both the planet and its inhabitants. Amidst the suffering, I embed sprouts of hope, tiny buds amid chaos. This duality, capturing both despair and regeneration, compels viewers to confront our shared responsibility for Mother Earth’s urgent plight.”

Amber Andrews, We Are Built Different, 2023, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde

The exhibition 'Flâneuse' by Amber Andrews will be on display at the Nieuw Zuid space of Gallery Sofie Van de Velde until 18 February 2024.

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Flor Linckens

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13 february 2024, Flor Linckens

Last chance: Amber Andrews’ ode to the flâneuse

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