In the last six years, Dutch artist Rein de Lege has expanded his work from small face series paintings to larger bar scenes, grand-scale faces and female nude figures. De Lege's newest exhibition at Gallery DeNovo in Ketchum is an emotional outburst of paintings titled "In Tense," and is accompanied by several self-produced short films.
"When I discovered the digital camera three years ago, another world opened for me," de Lege said. "This will be the first time I show films with a show, which was all done this year."
De Lege created several new works for his "In Tense" show, which opens Friday, Dec. 26, for Gallery Walk, from 6-9 p.m. De Lege will be in attendance for the opening and will also be available on Saturday, Dec. 27, from 3-5 p.m., at the gallery. De Lege's short films can be viewed upstairs at Gallery DeNovo on Friday, Dec. 26, from 4-9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
De Lege studied at the Rijksakademie Amsterdam School of Art beginning at age 16, and acquired a classic education in drawing and painting. His fascination with the human face and its many expressions is what drives his art.
"What we are is somehow reflected in our faces and it never stops," de Lege said. "Every face is different and tells a different story. Every face is a world of its own, unique and irreplaceable. It is so interesting to see with filming that one face can change many times."
De Lege does a great deal of sketching waiting for the bus or sitting in a bar, which is the base and source for his paintings. However, he said, sometimes things come up while painting, accidental things, and they become extremely useful to the work.
"Sketching is close to myself," de Lege said. "I want to have the sketches nearby because almost every drawing has a memory in it."
Working on several paintings at once, de Lege enjoys being a master over his work. He compares it to chess players who play several games at once. Yet all the faces he paints are imaginary.
"Painting is a solitary life and expresses many things," de Lege said. "I don't start with any one direction—the faces present themselves."
DeLege lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
"Spectators" by Rein de Lege. Acrylic on canvas at Gallery DeNovo.
