As part of ‘Antwerp Baroque 2018: Rubens as an inspiration’, the MAS welcomes the photographer and artist Athos Burez to the boulevard. With 80 images and installations, he shares his own unique and contemporary view on different genres from the style period: still lifes, portraits, landscapes and interiors.

Burez' work is characterised by an almost surrealist view of familiar images, often giving the impression that his photographs float between two worlds. In this exhibition, he joins old Baroque aspects with elements of contemporary imagery by means of an often contrasting approach. As a result, a completely new and unique Baroque image culture arises where the abundance and diversity of the period is tangible yet everything seamlessly comes together as if in a collage. It is the first time that Athos' work will be exhibited in a solo exhibition in Antwerp.

Athos Burez studied in Ghent: after obtaining a Fine Arts degree at Sint-Lucas, he studied photography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Over the last few years, he has put together an impressive portfolio of photographs with assignments not only for Knack, De Morgen, Elle and De Standaard Magazine but also for brands such as Nike, Levi’s and Café Costume. As a result of this, many well-known individuals like Rinus van de Velde, Stromae, Gabriel Rios, Daan and Matteo Simoni have already posed in front of his lens.

The influence of painting is never far away in Athos' work, however, his sense of freedom is greater with a camera than with a paint brush. Even before the picture has been taken, he builds the image accurately and consciously with attention to framing, lighting and the composition of his installations. That is, after all, where he succeeds in creating his typical, surreal yet tangible atmosphere. The new world which he has thus created, challenges the viewer's imagination, often with a touch of humour. More than once his work has been exhibited in a duo or group exhibition, but this time it can be admired in a solo exhibition in Antwerp.