Arno Amandt

Painter and draughtsman focused on portraits, landscapes and the encounter between sitter, artist and viewer.

Born in Ghent on 20 August 1996.

I see art as a form of research and approach life with an open mind, ready to keep broadening my perspective on art and to deepen my knowledge of new techniques, disciplines, artists, sources and materials.

My investigative working process continually leads me towards new perspectives. In my portraits, I explore the interaction between the gaze of the artist, the sitter and the viewer. I believe a painting can only come into being after a personal encounter with the subject of the work. As an artist, I need to experience the sitter's gaze. The gaze in my paintings therefore reflects the lasting impression left by that encounter.

When a viewer looks at one of my portraits, a conversation begins between them and me. The three gazes, those of the viewer, the subject and the artist, ask one another: how am I being seen, and how do I look back?

In my studio I work with a range of materials, including acrylic paint, water-mixable oil paint, pen and ink, and pastel. My practice includes paintings, drawings and digital work, with a strong focus on portraits and landscapes.

My artistic practice is an ongoing dialogue between observation and expression, inviting the viewer to take part in an introspective exploration of human experience.

Training

• Luca School of Arts, Ghent