Sylvie Martens (°1964 Deinze) is a Belgian painter who has been active in figurative painting since the early 1990s. Her work aligns with the tradition of the Belgian luminists, such as Emile Claus, and focuses on the effects of light and color in nature. Initially, she painted landscapes and flora, transforming them into abstract shapes and colors. In recent years, her focus has shifted to clouds or the interplay of light and shadow in nature, which she captures in their diverse, fleeting, and ever-changing forms.
Martens uses photographic material as a foundation, but her work quickly evolves into abstract impressions of emotions and moods. Her fascination with clouds and flora is deeply rooted in art history and the old masters, from the dramatic skies of Ruysdael and Turner to the delicate observations of Constable.
Layers of oil paint flow into one another, contours blur, and melt together into a harmonious whole. Her clouds are powerful and majestic, yet also fragile and ephemeral. This passion for painting and material use has led her to explore unconventional supports and media such as chamois leather, marble, wood, plaster, and wax, giving each work a unique appearance and soul. The small studies on chamois leather, wood, and marble are reminiscent of the cloud studies by Constable or Chevalier, but in a contemporary context. The changing character of the support—the irregularities, folds, and weathered look—enhances the tactile quality of her work and its sense of transience.
Martens’ work is characterized by an in-depth exploration of natural elements and a continuous quest to capture fleeting moments and moods. Her subjects are countless, elusive, uplifting, and melancholic all at once. She invites the viewer to look at nature anew, where endless stories and emotions unfold in its ever-changing forms.
