Léon Spilliaert

The Royal Academy's survey of the Belgian artist Léon Spilliaert is currently closed, but I managed to film it in its first week of opening. Since it's the first survey of this little known artist in the UK, it's doubly sad that audiences may not now get a chance to see it, so I hope this short film suffices as a brief introduction to his work. Prominent within the Belgian Symbolist movement, Spilliaert's fame has never extended much further than his home country, though he's now gaining wider recognition. Fellow Belgian painter Luc Tuymans can claim to be partly responsible for this renewed interest, having included one painting by Spilliaert in the Royal Academy's James Ensor exhibition of 2016, which Tuymans had been invited to curate. He's also contributed an essay for the exhibition catalogue.

[@kevenquinlan]

Ugh, there's so many artists- it's hard to absorb them all. This dudes shit is Fantastic. Came across him in a feed suggestion but had never heard of him before. Really cool works and now I will have to study him. Very dark and thoughtful.

[@mehrdadmatinfar5470]

There's a lot of sadness in his art😢

[@danasommer8937]

Omg

[@sesvaoffice8331]

love your videos which ive only just discovered. hope there are/will be more

[@danasommer8937]

Omg