Tom Liekens - Once upon a Time in the Forest

Tom Liekens (°1977) makes monumental paintings, woodcuts and collages. He is fascinated by the often imaginary way in picturing fauna and flora in paintings, fairy tales, myths and films.

Tom Liekens’ ‘fairy tales’ take place deep in the forest, far from the civilized world. However, his large woodcuts do not tell children’s stories, but are in fact fairy tales for adults. They show violent or sexual scenes of characters who seem to be hybrids of both human and animal.  The spectator feels like a voyeur of a dark fantasy world that is at the same time depicted realistically in a dystopian way.

Voyeurism, bestialities, sex, power and violence rule in this magical and mythological world. Liekens’ fascinating black-and-white canvases look both provocative and mysterious. 

This richly illustrated book, in collaboration with Cultuurcentrum De Werft and Galerie De Zwarte Panter, includes essays by Annelies Nagels, Jeroen Olyslaegers and Hildegard Van de Velde.