Nathanaëlle Herbelin's exhibition at Xavier Hufkens features portraits and interiors that capture the tension between everyday experiences and an unsettled world. The paintings focus on significant moments of connection amid themes of grief and uncertainty, using ambiguity to highlight presence and memory. Her depiction of figures, including her late grandfather, challenges traditional representation and reflects a deep introspection about personal and collective histories. The artworks serve as a grounding presence, acknowledging absence and rituals, particularly Jewish mourning practices, in a tender yet honest manner.
Herbelin's gaze is both tender and unflinchingly honest, stripping away embellishment to reveal the raw intimacy of her subjects.
The act of painting becomes a way to ground herself, to acknowledge absence, and to bear witness to both quiet rituals and emotional thresholds.
Figures emerge from undefined or weighty backgrounds, emphasising presence over place, memory over setting.
The paintings in this exhibition embrace ambiguity, reflecting a desire to hold on to moments of connection amid an undercurrent of grief and uncertainty.
Collection
[
|
...
]