ABOUT
BENNY DE GROVE
PHOTO BY KAYANE ANTREASSIAN
Benny De Grove was born in Ghent, Belgium in 1957. At the flourishing age of 12 Benny got his first camera as a gift from his aunt which awoke his passion for photography, he was instantly taken by the options that photography gave him to express himself . The experiments never ceased since then. He enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent to learn about the different techniques and possibilities. He has been working as a professional photographer since 1986 both on personal projects and as a commercial photographer and has accomplished many projects in documentary and staged studio photography such as editorial photography for magazines, covers for literary publications, photography for promotional materials for theatre, portraiture, advertisements... etc.
Benny De Grove is influenced by classical painters such as Rembrandt, Van Eyck and Caravaggio. The latter has particularly influenced the way he uses light. Surrealists such as René Magritte and the symbolic/expressionist works of James Ensor (both lived and worked in Benny’s home country) and filmmakers such as Lynch, Kurosawa and Kubrick as have also been role models in shaping his taste.
Benny uses portraits to create mythical atmospheres, and through these images he tries to arise questions regarding society. The goal of his works is to create a dialogue between him, his work and the spectator. He strives to make this world a better place by underlining the importance of care of nature and spiritual life.
EXHIBITONS
2018
HOMMAGE AAN JEAN-MARIE BOTTEQUIN
Group Exhibition / Zebrastraat - Ghent, Belgium
March 2018
LIFE IS BUT A DREAM
Group Exhibition / Agora Gallery - New York, USA
May 2018
PHOTOGRAPHERS & THEIR VIEW ON EUROPEAN CITIES
Group Exhibition / Museum Spazio Tadini - Milan, Italy
June-July 2018
WE CONTEMPORARY - SIDESHOW OF MANIFESTA BIENNALE
Group Exhibition / Musa International Art Space - Palermo, Sicily
October 2018
EXHIBITION
Group Exhibition / Colorida Gallery - Lisbon, Portugal
November 2018 - January 2019
BELLA
Group Exhibition / London, UK
December 2018 - January 2019
NEAPOLITAN TOMBOLA
Group Exhibition / Galerie Etienne De Causauns - Paris, France
December 2018 - January 2019
2019
THE POWER OF THE HEART
Group Exhibition / Grimandi Art Gallery - New York, USA
February 2019
EXHIBITION
Group Exhibition / Rossocinabro Gallery - Rome, Italy
March 2019
KUNST in 't Kasteel
Group Exhibition / Sterckshof Antwerpen - Deurne
May 2019
THROUGH YOUR LENS
Group Exhibition / Paris -Galerie Etienne de Causans (during Paris Photo)
November 2019
2020
CONFESSIONI
Solo Exhibition / GC Marca : Maarkedal
Januari 2020
2021
CONFESSIONI
Solo Exhibition / Sint Niklaaskerk : Gent (during the year "OMG Van Eyck was here") POSTPONED
september/oktober 2021
CONFESSIONI selection of works
Group Exhibition / Spazio Tadini : Milan POSTPONED
Opening 25 june 2020
TRACES WITH FACES
Exhibition / Garden exhibition : De Pinte
August-September 2021
CONFESSIONI
Solo Exhibition / Sint Niklaaskerk : Gent (part of "OMG Van Eyck was here")
29 September - 27 October 2021
NEVER GIVE UP
Group Exhibition / Paris (organized by Galleria Monteoliveto)
17 to 26 november 2021
2022
THROUGH YOUR LENS
Group Exhibition / MILAN Italy : Spazio Tadini (organized by Galleria Monteoliveto)
2 works of Fading Memories
1 june (opening) till 26 june
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
2022
RenovArt / 100 Artists for the future
Group Exhibition / Matera/Alberobello Italy (organized by ApuliaAste)
1 July (opening) till 31 July
CONFESSIONI PART 1
Solo Exhibition / Oudenaarde : Lietskasteel organized by "Vermeylenfonds"
September - Oktober
CONFESSIONI PART 2 - FADING MEMORIES (PREMIERE) - TRACES WITH FACES
Solo Exhibition / Ronse : Huis Van de Mens organized by "Vermeylenfonds" - "Huis Van de Mens"-"Willemsfonds"
Location 1
Inside Huis van de Mens : Fading Memories (first time shown to public)
Garden Exhibition : Traces with Faces
Location 2
"De Passage" : Confessioni
September - Oktober
"FADING MEMORIES"/solo exhibition commissioned by Vermeylenfonds : 2022
2023
Cultuurhuis Merelbeke
Solo Exhibition "Doven Zien, portretten van gebarentaligen" an exposition accompanying a larger expo about Hearing impaired and Deaf people
Sprin 2023