Each object can become a symbol, and every symbol can reveal unexpected depths. Sebastian Haquin (London, 1991) explores the magic of everyday things.
His starting point is dreams and distorted memories. The scene that has become ingrained in his mind, he physically recreates with selected models and often paints immediately. The elements of his work - a naked man on all fours, a woman with sunglasses and a glass of wine, Peter Pan - may seem somewhat vague individually. However, when combined in Haquin's work, they expose a spectacle.
His work is figurative and expressionistic. He uses a vibrant color palette and alternates between coarse and fine brushstrokes. Haquin frequently employs wet-on-wet painting (alla prima), applying a new layer without allowing the layers to dry in between. By revealing the different layers of paint, Haquin aims to create space within the painting, similar to how a dream leaves certain parts vague and others detailed or distorted. The layers of paint serve as the starting point of the narrative and add an extra symbolic layer to the work.
Sebastian Haquin was born in London and raised in Australia. His father is French. He graduated from the RMIT Art Academy in Melbourne with a BFA in painting. He currently lives and works in Rotterdam.