• Level Five is a cooperative studio for and by artists. We collectively organise and take care of our spaces and the people making use of them. In this way we create a durable foundation for each of our artistic practices and initiatives.

Level Five is a cooperative studio for and by artists. We collectively organise and take care of our spaces and the people making use of them. In this way we create a durable foundation for each of our artistic practices and initiatives.

Mathias Prenen

Upside Down, in light of shadows, solo exhibition KIOSK Ghent 2023 - Mathias Prenen’s exhibition initiates a dialogue between art, architecture, and the perception of authenticity. At KIOSK, Prenen has created a site-specific installation inspired by scenographic elements and the architectural history of Ghent’s old Clinical and Outpatient Institute designed by Louis Cloquet. Using these as sculpted memory, Prenen presents creations from three different work periods between 2013 and 2023 in Ghent’s sister city of Kanazawa, Japan, alongside a selection of works created in Belgium. They reflect Prenen’s study of age-old techniques, such as the application of urushi, a traditional Japanese lacquer, and its reinterpretation in a contemporary context.
Tanizaki’s Lantern 2023 - "Mathias Prenen's 2022 residency at Utatsuyama Kogei Kobo led to the creation of diverse pieces, including this projection mechanism. Inspired by early cinema, it also hints at an architectural model. Exploring the traditional material urushi (漆 , resin) in conjunction with cinema and architecture, he plays with scale, place, time, and shadows. A glimpse into Prenen's upcoming studio projects, combining moving image, sculpture, and in-situ installations."
Urushi film research files 2023 - In this picture you see fragments of the artistic research and experimentation conducted during the past 10 years between Japan and Belgium revolving around the translation of urushi to film. This file holder contains the extensive interdisciplinary research into the history and proliferation of urushi as cinematic material.

Mathias Prenen (1990°) holds a master’s degree in fine arts and sculpture from KASK in Ghent. Additionally, he pursued studies in lacquering and textiles at Kanazawa College of Arts in Japan. His diverse sculptural portfolio encompasses a spectrum of works, ranging from expansive installations to smaller objects. Prenen’s artistic exploration extends to various sculpting techniques, transposing traditional and contemporary sculpting methods and sampling various artistic disciplines.

Incorporating elements of subversive pre- and post-modernism, Prenen’s work delves into the complexities of cultural profusion resulting from globalization. His art scrutinizes the concept of authenticity, weaving a narrative that challenges traditional boundaries. With a multimedia practice, he creates imaginative and visually compelling pieces, placing a strong emphasis on materiality and anthropological significance, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the dynamic intersections between tradition and modernity.

« Marco Lampis
Maud Gourdon »