The Studio is Posture’s artist representation program. It is comprised of carefully selected artists that Posture has chosen to work with on an intimate basis to provide community and support. Through collaboration with pop-up spaces, galleries, and organizations, these artists exhibit their work regularly as well as create new and exciting projects.

We are excited to announce that Eddy Bogaert has just joined the team to be represented by Posture’s Artist Agent Lynn Hutchins. He is kicking off his premiere with an exhibition in collaboration with ADA Fine Art at this year’s Art Basel Miami. His work will be featured alongside the contemporary artists Mr. Brainwash, Bernard Desjardins, Ozmo, Francisco Sotomayor, and Feri Paszynski, Bernard Pras and Michael Metcalf.

Q&A | Eddy Bogaert on truth, chaotic balance, and desire

“Many things inspire me…sex, drugs, identity, love, lust, desire and wants. It’s a concoction of my life in a frame.”

Hi Eddy. Congrats on joining The Posture Studio. How long have you been creating works of art?

Hi, thank you! All my life. I really don’t remember when I picked up my first marker and started drawing, but I think it was during math class…those professors were boring to me. I would reference magazines as well like Source Magazine which had some amazing graffiti in the back of the magazine and I would emulate the style.

Do you explore specific themes or topics in your subject matter? What inspires you?

A theme that I explore a lot in my work is the “public persona” versus the “truth.” The “public persona”  is when you meet somebody for the first time and it is never the real person, only the surface. One meets what I like to call ” the representative,” so I portray this in my work by creating each painting with multiple layers. Under natural lighting conditions the viewer sees only the top layer which is a finished work in and of itself, so it seems. In many ways it’s beautiful. But when I turn the lights off and turn the black lights on one sees what I like to call “the truth.” The things that one saw before disappear and a completely different painting emerges. Faces come out of the shadows and it becomes darker in feeling yet brighter in color. The colors flow in every direction creating a “chaotic balance.”

Many things inspire me…sex, drugs, identity, love, lust, desire and wants. It’s a concoction of my life in a frame.

  

What are you currently reading, listening to or looking at to fuel your work?

As for books l love to read, but I get more inspiration from music. It helps put fire in my emotions. I love the “neighborhood” feel like I can relate to the whole album. But I also listen to:

Tiesto
Kanye west
KORN
My Chemical Romance
Cold Cave
The Killers
Nirvana
Wu Tang
Method Man
Skrillex
Onyx
Seether
The Plastic
Aviici
Ed Solo
Three days grace
Linkin Park
Big L
Cafe del mar chill out lounge
ATB
George Acosta
Phaeleh
Matt & Kim
Postal Service
Rob Douglas
Crystal Castle
Kendrick Lamar
Lenny Kravitz
Swim Deep
Ppk
Dj MFR
Massive attack
Muse
Nero
Lauren Hoffman
Phoenix
Little People
The Bravery
Band of Horses
The Rakes
The Reminders
Wax Tailor

What is the most memorable response have you gotten to your work?

I think it was many years ago when I was just honestly just walking through the abyss of life hoping that I would eventually find myself. So the most remarkable gesture came from a dying man as I was walking down the hallway of a hospital carrying one of my paintings….He stopped me by saying, “this is one of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen…” I stared at the man with his sad eyes finding myself quickly tearing up. To lighten the mood I replied, “we have the same haircut!” and I took off my hat to show him my shaved head. Then I told the man to keep the painting. Don’t know who he was or anything, I just know that he truly appreciated it. As I walked away I was just thinking “what do I tell my friend that I was going to see with a present…?”

It is well known that becoming a full time artist is an intense struggle. What do you dislike about the art world and, on the opposite side, what do you love about it?

Life is but a struggle, one has to go through adversaries to get what they want. If it was easy then everybody would do it. It’s what makes an artist learn to love the craft of art; an artist can’t be chained down.  S/he is a revolutionary who like all has to go through the tough times.  Once on the top the battle isn’t over. The hustle must continue to find the utopia present only in the mind.

What are your biggest creative challenges and how do you deal with them?

The biggest struggle is time because I can find anything to paint on. But like a friend of mine keeps on saying “what is time?”

You mentioned previously having experience with modeling and acting. Is this something you still want to pursue?

Modeling is an inspiration because of the constant beauty I’m surrounded by. That’s the solar power energy that helps my fire burn. As for acting it taught me about the human mask that we all wear without knowing. I’m not going to go through the rat race to become an actor. I’m an artist first and if something good lands on my lap I’ll do it. Jared Leto was an artist before he was an actor and a musician before he won an Oscar. What lies in front of me are my canvases but if in the future I can get a different part that will challenge my existence on Earth I might take it.

What do you do when you are not creating art? How do you enjoy life?

I like to call myself a gregarious loner, but I love people, really I do I find people fascinating. One of my favorite things was to have people over at my loft, when I had it. And I would cook for them. Also I use to be a bartender and a line cook at Scarpetta, Zöe and Bagatelle so I can cook like a champ and make some bad ass drinks. Going out is fun as well I get to see people in different lights. I once took an acting class where we had to look at people and compare them to animals, and doing this while intoxicated is fun. I sometimes just go home and start painting what I saw. I also love sports so going to a game or playing basketball makes me very happy.

What makes you angry?

When I paint I use those emotions and turn it around to make art out if it. If not these emotions are too strong and hurtful and do not create a balance in my life, just (bad) chaos so I make something beautiful out of my pain.

If you had a superpower what would it be?

It might sound perverted but screw it. If I had a super power I would point the finger and people would start to have sex. There would be no wars because people are usually friendlier after sex. Also with this power if someone wants to kill me I’d make them start to play with themself without knowing why. I honestly hope to do that with my art.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What advice can you give to another up and coming artist?

You would think that my best advice would come from an artist but no it came from Dean and Dan Caten the designers for DSQUARED2. I met them at their showroom in Chelsea and started talking about all kinds of stuff. They told me “enjoy the roller coaster ride, because once you’re on the top people want to see you fall. So always be aware and keep on working to be the best you can be…” I took that to heart, even though I was getting annoying to be called “lashes” any time they wanted me to get them anything. They were really approachable and kindred.

The advice I would give to anybody is to never give up. If you’re doing a job you hate stop! Because life isn’t all about the money, yes it helps, but I promise you that if you find something you love to do you never have to work. Get off your ass and do what god/Allah or whomever put you on this earth to do. Be smart, be witty, and don’t let an asswhole in this world close your heart and make it vile. Because I know I don’t know you whoever is reading this, but I can tell you that if I made it this far you can make it even farther.