Renowned Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck (Turnhout, 1969), known for his ability to create immersive, sensory installations that invite silent contemplation, presents a new series of works in Vienna, through Feb. 18, 2026, that explore the complex relationship between human beings and the world around them. His versatile oeuvre, which ranges from theater set design to watercolor paintings, now focuses on sculpture and film. The exhibition, titled Curiosities, Constellations and Vanishing Points, is hosted at Galerie Krinzinger and is divided into two main sections. The first part is configured as a large Wunderkammer, a chamber of wonders, in which elements that allude to the dichotomy between culture and nature are mixed in an eclectic and anachronistic manner.
In this section, the artist explores a wide range of themes, including references to fossilized natural elements, animals, mysticism, planetariums, astronomy, and early forms of science, bringing oral traditions and imagery into dialogue with allusions to contemporary semantics and digital imagery. The works in the exhibition poetically interrogate our relationship with the immensity of the universe and, at the same time, with the more mundane reality of everyday life, evoking the classic existential idea of memento mori.
It should be noted that Op de Beeck introduces for the first time the use of text and kinetic components in some sculptures, such as a planetarium that rotates on its own axis or a life-size raven that appears to fly in place. Interestingly, his reflection on human macro-organisms, such as the architectural grids of cities, led him to compositions that resemble modernist abstractionism.
The second part of the exhibition is devoted to a screening of the film Vanishing Point. The title refers to the vanishing point in perspective, where parallel lines converge and the perception of three-dimensional depth vanishes. Op de Beeck uses the concept in a metaphorical sense, understanding it as the turning point beyond which one passes from measurability and legibility to the realm of the unknown, from the abstract to the spiritual.
The film is entirely based on black-and-white watercolors and begins with an image of a child peacefully lying down with his eyes closed, then carries the viewer through figures, still lifes and fantasy landscapes. The animation is accompanied by a musical composition specially created by musician Sam Vloemans and performed by the Hermes Ensemble (B). The ensemble creates a serene and enthralling atmosphere that invites a brief moment of surrender. The artist is particularly drawn to those moments when human beings shed their logical and rational understanding of the world, slipping into a state of timelessness and loss of self, becoming “zero” or “nobody” for a moment.
For all information you can visit Galerie Krinzinger’s website.
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| Hans Op de Beeck in Vienna: new exhibition among kinetic sculptures, the universe and the art of getting lost |
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