A City of Minds and Shadows (2025) Painting by Jan Keteleer

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Seller Jan Keteleer

Fine art paper, 8x8 in
  • Original Artwork (One Of A Kind) Painting, Digital Collage / Acrylic / Pencil on Wood
  • Dimensions Height 19.7in, Width 19.7in
  • Artwork's condition The artwork is in perfect condition
  • Framing This artwork is not framed
  • Categories Symbolism Spirituality
This collage is all about how hard it is to live as a human and all the things society expects of us. At the centre of it all is a picture of a man's head with a whole city on top of it. This is a metaphor for all the things we have to deal with in our heads, like responsibilities, ambitions and thoughts. The city is huge and detailed, but it's also [...]
This collage is all about how hard it is to live as a human and all the things society expects of us. At the centre of it all is a picture of a man's head with a whole city on top of it. This is a metaphor for all the things we have to deal with in our heads, like responsibilities, ambitions and thoughts. The city is huge and detailed, but it's also delicate, which shows that we're both strong and fragile.
There's a man in a black suit on the shoulder next to the head, looking steady but thoughtful. He represents the self outside, poised and in control, but also tangled up inside in all that he's thinking about.At the bottom of the head, there's a woman on a bench by herself, looking thoughtful. Next to her is the shadow of a man, maybe suggesting memory or loss.
The scene is set against a barren, empty landscape, which is there on purpose to make the inner feelings of connection, solitude, and the delicate balance between personal identity and external expectations even more obvious.

Related themes

Identity Resilience Solitude Connection Introspection

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From his interests in both classical art and modern / contemporary art, Belgian artist Jan Keteleer (JanKé) works with different styles. Ancient art is one of his interests, but you can also find examples of his [...]

From his interests in both classical art and modern / contemporary art, Belgian artist Jan Keteleer (JanKé) works with different styles. Ancient art is one of his interests, but you can also find examples of his work in pop art and impressionism. If you browse through Jan Keteleer's portfolio, you will find beautiful nature scenes, painterly images of animals or pop art-based nudes.

After years of working in commercial photography, he turned his interest to artistic black and white photography. Projects such as Speechless, Silent Dialogues and Roots with Taboo brought him fame. He was inspired by the problems of the multicultural society in Belgium, the coexistence of different national and ethnic groups, the issue of the language barrier and the lack of dialogue between the "old" (the native population) and the "new" Belgians (the immigrants).

Today he has devoted himself entirely to digital painting. Using classical techniques such as acrylic and pastel, he creates individual elements that are then digitally brought together and finished.

JanKé attaches great importance to the social significance of his works and integrates them into the context of public space (stations, airports and public transport), prompting the viewer to react and reflect. His projects have received the support of the organization Sprakeloos, which aims to use art to provoke discussion on social issues.

He has had numerous exhibitions in Belgium (in Antwerp, Bruges, Lier, Leuven and Ghent), in the U.S. (in Dallas and San Francisco) and in Poland (in Krakow).

See more from Jan Keteleer

View all artworks
Painting titled "Woman in Motion" by Jan Keteleer, Original Artwork, Digital Painting Mounted on Wood Panel
Digital Painting on Wood | 15.8x15.8 in
$562.62
Digital Arts titled "Meisje zwemmend ond…" by Jan Keteleer, Original Artwork, Digital Painting
Digital Arts | 29.5x19.7 in
$421.24
Digital Arts titled "Vrouw Duikend" by Jan Keteleer, Original Artwork, 2D Digital Work
Digital Arts | 29.5x19.7 in
$323.05
Painting titled "The abstraction of…" by Jan Keteleer, Original Artwork, Digital Painting
Digital Painting on Paper | 24.6x19.7 in
$244.49

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