Galerij Weerlicht presents Elysium, a duo-exhibition bringing together the work of Bruno V. Roels and Stief DeSmet.
The title refers to the mythical paradise of Greek antiquity, an imagined place of harmony where nature, memory and longing converge. In this exhibition, Elysium becomes less a destination than a question: what does paradise look like today, and why do we keep searching for it?
Together, Roels and DeSmet construct a poetic terrain between reality and myth. Palm trees, animals, landscapes and symbols appear as echoes of an ancient promise: the persistent human desire to imagine, build, and perhaps briefly inhabit a place like Elysium.
Private viewings on request
Opening:
Sunday 13.09.2026 — 14h - 18h
In the presence of both artists.
Book signing:
Sunday 27.09.2026 — 14h - 18h
In the presence of both artists.
—
Open Saturdays and Sundays, 14:00–18:00
13 September – 4 October 2026
Weekdays by appointment
Stief DeSmet
Stief DeSmet approaches this longing from another angle. Working across sculpture, painting and installation, he investigates the complex relationship between nature and culture. His works often evoke archetypes, myths and fragments of an imagined landscape, where the desire for an ideal, untamed world meets the realities of contemporary life.
Stief DeSmet
ATHENA NOCTUA / Minot — Stief DeSmet
Bruno V. Roels
Bruno V. Roels (b. 1976) studied Language and Literature at Ghent University. He lives and works in his hometown of Ghent.
He made his debut in 2014 at Gallery Fifty One in Antwerp and his work has since been regularly featured in exhibitions and art fairs both at home and abroad. He has collaborated with Saint Laurent, Hermès and Hotel Corazon and has published six books to date.
He is represented worldwide by Gallery FIFTY ONE (Antwerp) and Howard Greenberg Gallery (New York).
—
In collaboration with Gallery Fifty One
Bruno V. Roels
Bruno V. Roels - Lying About Our Past #3, 2022 — Courtesy Gallery FIFTY ONE