Ben Benaouisse
Ben Benaouisse (b. 1971, Wallonia) initially presented himself as a dancer. Thanks to his collaboration with Théâtre Victoria (Dirk Pauwels, Alain Platel & Arne Sierens), he moved to Ghent in 1993. Over the years, he has also revealed himself as an actor, performer, visual artist and curator. It is precisely this versatility that works in his favor. In Ben Benaouisse’s visual work, it is essential to try to grasp political, religious and cultural laws. Before experimenting with the possibilities of paint and canvas, he had already made a name for himself with his experimental theater and dance performances. He has followed an atypical path, exploring various media without any academic background. His artistic work is based on the principle of appropriation, and he constantly strives for an attitude towards the “here and now”: “As an artist, what can I add to all that has already been done? I am the dwarf on the giant”. He tests the capacity of art in our time and explores its role in our society. His conceptual interest is balanced by the wonder and pleasure of making something.