Stef Van Looveren — Photo © Stef Van Looveren

Stef Van Looveren

Stef Van Looveren (they/them) (1992) makes video installations, photos and collages. Their work aims to reflect and dismantle the performativity of human behaviour, particularly within the gender concept. By very playfully imitating social mannerisms and mixing them with visual culture elements, their work errs towards surrealism.

Van Looveren studied Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins (London) and Sint-Lucas (Antwerp). For their work, Van Looveren received the STRT Schot award, a prize awarded to a graduate artist selected from the two art academies in Antwerp (Sint-Lucas and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts).

In their work, the artist often questions gender in relation to identity and sexuality. Recent group exhibition is SITUASIAN (2023) in Devolution / One Piece Gallery (Fujian Province, China); the solo RADICAL HOPE – EYE to EYE (2023) made this for the Radikal Jung Festival (Munich, Germany).

On display at COME CLOSER

DE SINGEL

Confessions, 2024

Performance (world première) (past)

Van Looveren combines video with performance in sculptural installations. Their exploration of the body is inspired by a hybrid mix of elements: religious iconography, technology, popular culture and BDSM. For this live performance, Stef Van Looveren goes solo. Using their body and a wide range of emotional and social phases, the different layers in our identity are explored.