S.M.A.K. presents the first institutional solo exhibition by Belgian artist Bendt Eyckermans {Antwerp, b. 1994). The Passenger brings together a series of recent works he has made over the past three years. His paintings are highly narrative, incorporating elements from his everyday surroundings – objects from his studio, friends, or details from the street – into dreamlike, mysterious compositions. In addition to paintings, the exhibition also features sculptural elements, a short film, and works on paper that offer an unprecedented insight into Eyckermans’ thought process.
In recent years, Bendt Eyckermans has gained international recognition for his almost cinematic visual language, steeped in suggestion and mystery. His characters inhabit an indeterminate state, depicted in scenes rendered in a muted colour palette with a striking use of light sources. Although Eyckermans, as a painter, is fascinated by art history, his practice is also strongly influenced by photography and film. This is evident, among other things, in the distinctive framing of his compositions. By borrowing techniques from these media that suggest movement, the artist circumvents one of painting’s limitations: the static image.
In his most recent work at S.M.A.K., Eyckermans alternates between interiors and street scenes. The artist explores how we relate to our surroundings, both to the objects we collect and surround ourselves with, and to the spaces we inhabit, which in turn help shape our identity. Whether scaffolding, markings on fa9ades, or memories we associate with a particular place, these are things that unconsciously become part of who we are, our surroundings, and our way of thinking. Doors also frequently feature, as portals to another world. Tarpaulins and scaffolding, on the other hand, refer to things in our surroundings that we no longer notice but which symbolise change.
Eyckermans also adds several spatial elements to the exhibition, some of which appear in his paintings, enhancing the sense that we are stepping into his world. A sculpture of a manhole cover, for example, not only refers to the urban environment, but also carries symbolic meaning. It provides access to the underworld, just as Eyckermans’ work delves into the subconscious.
Alongside the paintings and spatial elements, Eyckermans also presents a substantial number of works on paper that offer an unprecedented insight into his thought process. At the beginning of the exhibition, visitors can also watch a brand-new video essay that serves as an immersion into Eyckermans’ universe.
In the framework of the exhibition, Eyckermans is also presenting two films at Sphinx cinema in Ghent: Ma/pertuis and The Arrival of Joachim Stiller. Both films were directed by Harry Kumel and are set in Ghent and Antwerp, respectively. Eyckermans is fascinated by the magical-realist atmosphere of Kumel’s work, which he also succeeds in evoking in his paintings. On 1 November, the artist will also engage in a conversation with Kumel prior to the screening.
Bendt Eyckermans: The Passenger
31 October 2026 – 21 February 2027
Opening: Friday 30 October 2026 at 19:00
Press conference: Thursday 29 October 2026 at 11:00
S.M.A.K. Ghent
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