Andrej Babenko

About Andrej Babenko
Andrej Babenko is a Belgian artist of Ukrainian origin who grew up in an environment permeated by Soviet propaganda. Babenko is captivated by the Russian realistic classical painting school, as well as the forbidden rock scene of the 80ies. His art works are monumental, reflecting daily life as well as the inner demons he deals with. They show society with all its contrasts, struggles and hypocrisy and present a whirlwind of characters, colour, drama and melancholy blended together. Layers of oil paint are combined in an explosive, organic way with the speed of graffiti techniques. Influences of and similarities with Neo Rauch, Salvador Dali, Jheronimus Bosch and Francis Bacon can be discerned.
Besides painting, Babenko shows his work through performances where music, poetry and live painting come together. To this end, he has worked together with Mauro Pawlowski and Dirk De Wachter. In addition, Babenko gives graffiti workshops in museums or to youngsters with a socially vulnerable background.
Babenko is listed in the Kunstenaarsdatabank, the Belgian list of professional artists and art heritage:
Andrej Babenko / Databank / Kunstenpunt

Events
From Malevich’ black square to Babenko’s QR code
I am currently working on a research project in which I will assess the way in which historical and current turning points in world history influence my creative process and how this shows in my art. Concretely, I will investigate the following elements and epochs:
- Malevich and his black square
- The forbidden eastern European punk scene
- The swinging sixties, instand gratification and 15 minutes of fame
- My identity reduced to a QR code
I will organise dialogues with experts in the art sector and academic world, in Belgium, Ukrain and Russia. The following people among others have expressed their commitment to take part: Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven, Kris Martin, Hans Willemse (art curator M HKA Antwerp), Johan Pas (director Art Academy Antwerp), Bart Marius (artistic director Museum Dr. Guislain), Philippe Van Cauteren (artistic director S.M.A.K. Ghent), Nikolai Kunchevich aka Nik Rok n Roll, Natalia Chumakova, Timur Novikov, Nikita Kadan

Exhibitions

2021 Full House - solo exhibition, Antwerp curator Hans Willemse curator MUHKA/Panamarenko

2021 Spuitwater - group exhibition, M HKA Antwerp

2020 Solo exhibition, Martin van Blerk Gallery, Antwerp

2019 Babenko, De Wachter, Pawlowski, museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent

2019 Solo exhibition, museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent

2018 Babenko, De Wachter, Pawlowski, S.M.A.K. Ghent

2018 Babenko, De Wachter, Pawlowski, Pukkelpop, Hasselt

2018 Babenko, De Wachter, Pawlowski, Extra City, Antwerp

2018 Wall of fame, portraits exhibition, Gallerie Ecole D'Olargue, France

2017 Portrait of Luciano Benetton ‘Imago Mundi’
Venice Biennale

2016 Exhibition ‘…an Artist’s wife’s hallucination’
Galery Campo & Campo, Antwerp

2015 Exhibition ‘Between Dream and
Reality’
European Commission, Brussels

2015 Exhibition ‘Between Dream and
Reality’ & performance with Mauro
Pawlowski ‘dEUS’
Galery Campo & Campo, Antwerp

2014 Exhibition
Galery Van Campen & Rochtus,
Antwerp

2014 Exhibition ‘Portraits’
University of Leiden, Leiden

2014 Exhibition
Galery Campo & Campo, Antwerp

2014 Group exhibition and video
performance ‘Museumnacht’
Volksmuseum, Antwerp

2013 Performance ‘Occupy Atelier’
Ruimte Morguen, Antwerp
with music by first violinist of Flanders
Opera

2013 Performance
Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp

2013 Group exhibition ‘Night at the
Museum’, Moscow

2013 Group exhibition ‘Common Art
Fest’ Scheld’Apen, Antwerp

2013 Group exhibition ‘Land of Milk
and Money’
Byrrh, Brussels

2013 Exhibition
Galery Van Campen & Rochtus,
Antwerp

2013 Performance
Tate Modern, London

2012 Exhibition ‘Portraits’
University of Antwerp, Antwerp
with music by first violinist of Flanders
Opera – contemporary improvisations

2012 Group exhibition ‘Art 4 peace
stencils-peaceful World’
Cut Up Galerie, Germany

2012 Group exhibition
Doel

2012 Babenko Belgium organises
art project ‘Contemporary Art Sucks’,
bringing together art works of various
international artists
Designcenter De Winkelhaak, Antwerp

2011 Group exhibition
Galery Campo & Campo, Antwerp

2010 Auction 3 art works
Fundraising gala
Flanders Opera, Antwerp
‘Onegin’ sold as top piece

2010 Exhibition ‘Tegen de Stroom’
Flanders Opera, Antwerp

2009 Group exhibition
Galery Campo & Campo, Antwerp

2008 Group exhibition ‘Out of Control’
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels

2008 Erasmus, Master in Visual Arts
University of the West of Engeland,
Bristol, UK

2004 – 2008 Master in Visual Arts
Karel de Grote Hogeschool, Antwerp