Art Story

In the "Beach" series, Jan De Vliegher starts from his own photographs of the sea, taken from the beach, the pier, or an apartment in Knokke. The works exude a light blue palette, in which human figures appear scattered across the picture plane or seem to stroll through it. It is one of the few series in which people feature actively -alongside "San Marco", "Yellow Chairs", and the more recent "Versailles". Here, the sea is not a static backdrop, but a living, vibrating surface. With energetic brushstrokes, De Vliegher captures the movement of the water and the erratic reflections of light. His fascination with how light affects our perception of colour finds full expression in this series. A striking and recent element in this series is the use of subtle accents in fluorescent paint, custom-developed by the artist himself: small yet impactful interventions that make the images glow and imbue them with an irresistible vibrancy. "Neon colours have the ability to glow more intensely than white," the artist explains. This effect is especially striking in the light summer clothing of the beachgoers, where it creates a vivid visual tension-the eye is naturally drawn to the glow. The contrasts become more pronounced, and the brightest areas appear to radiate light. The "Beach" series thus brings together technical virtuosity and a summery, familiar energy that continues to captivate.