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05 april 2024, Flor Linckens

The figurative fantasies of Sebastian Haquin

Sebastian Haquin, New life (detail), 2023, Westerkadekunst

Until 23 June, Westerkadekunst presents 'A Good Year for the Roses' by Sebastian Haquin on GalleryViewer. The work of the British-Australian artist can also be viewed by appointment at the gallery in Rotterdam.

Sebastian Haquin was born in 1991 in London but grew up in Australia. He studied painting at the RMIT University School of Art in Melbourne and has lived in the Netherlands for ten years now. Haquin's practice consists of figurative paintings that often originate from everyday events, dreams and memories. The depicted scenes appear personal and intimate and seem mundane at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they reveal how the boundaries between dream and reality can effectively blur in these works.

Sebastian Haquin, High priestess, 2023, Westerkadekunst

Among the subjects depicted, we encounter a woman floating through a street in a red dress, Peter Pan and a monkey (or a devil?) dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. Other works appear more realistic, like a self-portrait in front of a mirror, a garden door invitingly ajar on a languid summer day or the lively ambiance of a party. Occasionally, the titles of the works imbue the works with an ironic or poetic layer, such as "Kebab Shop Nativity". Other works are rendered more mysterious by the addition of a title, like "Fugitives Dream (Mother and Child)", "High Priestess", or "The First Time (That Never Happened)". Haquin's compositions are rich tapestries of narrative and detail, refusing to steer the observer's gaze in any one direction. The backgrounds often demand as much attention as the characters in the foreground. When Haquin posts his works on Instagram, he usually posts an overview image followed by a number of detail shots that force you to look more deeply and appreciate the nuances. Earlier this year, during Rotterdam Art Week, the artist welcomed the public in his studio in a former school building.

Haquin's paintings are characterised by an expressive touch, complex emotional layers and a powerful colour palette. He prefers the alla prima painting method, in which a new layer of paint is applied before the underlying layer has dried. This results in lively and spontaneous works with rich colour mixtures and a certain dynamism and sense of urgency. The gallery beautifully states that with this method, he effectively 'creates space in the painting'. Haquin often uses models for his works, with whom he reenacts certain scenes in his mind. The artist's practice is marked by deep curiosity and boundless imagination.

Sebastian Haquin, The first time (that never happened), 2023, Westerkadekunst

Haquin was recently nominated for the Volkskrant Visual Arts Prize 2024. Besides a potential prize — 10,000 euros for the winner and 2,500 euros for the audience favorite — this also means his paintings will be on display at the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam from 6 April until 23 June. The five nominees for the prize were each proposed by a leading figure or collective from the cultural sector. Haquin was nominated by Charl Landvreugd, who said about his work: "Poetically and with a light queer undertone, these paintings depict the underlying nervousness of people in their twenties and thirties." The winner will be announced by the jury in May. The winner of the audience award will be determined based on the votes of the museum audience in Stedelijk Museum Schiedam and will therefore be announced on 9 June, towards the end of the exhibition run. The prizes are provided by Stichting De Groot Fonds.

Sebastian Haquin, Kebab shop nativity, 2023, Westerkadekunst

The exhibition 'A Good Year for the Roses' by Sebastian Haquin is available on GalleryViewer until 23 June and his works can also be viewed by appointment at Westerkadekunst in Rotterdam — specifically at Westerkade 27.

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Flor Linckens

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05 april 2024, Flor Linckens

The figurative fantasies of Sebastian Haquin

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