Expo: Comedy From A Distance
In Comedy from a Distance, Tom Wynn Owen and Bjorn Floréal explore the dual nature of human existence: the intensity of personal tragedies versus the detached vastness in which absurdity and humor become visible.
Inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s quote, “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot,”the exhibition reflects on our self-obsessed visual culture, in which we not only constantly examine and edit ourselves in detail, but also expose ourselves in a constant stream of trauma-dumping. Pain becomes content, vulnerability a brand.
We learn to frame ourselves as protagonists in an endless stream of micro-narratives. But what happens when we learn to see ourselves – and each other – not only in detail, but also in context? What do we see when we not only zoom in, but also zoom out?
Through paintings, Owen and Floréal invite you to shift between the individual and the collective, between seriousness and irony. Comedy from a Distance is a visual dairy about how we look – and how that shapes us.
EXPO FROM 6/6/2025 UNTIL 06/07/2025
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About Bjorn:
Bjorn Floréal(°1997), a graduate of KASK & Conservatorium School of Arts, is a Belgian multidisciplinary artist and performer. He works at the intersection of theatre, dance, and visual arts. His practice combines a unique blend of visual power and psychological depth. In his performances, he explores themes such as identity, taboos, trauma, and intimacy. Notable projects include Supernatural, a ritual performance with Mustaf Ahmeti, and Candide, in which he and Laurens Aneca delve into personal and vulnerable topics.
Floréal has acted in productions such as Zomergastenand Ten Oorlog(Camping Sunset), A Revue(Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe), Ne Mosquito Pas(Simon Van Schuylenbergh et al.), Goblins(Jana de Kockere), and Break Free(Maxime Dreesen). He also appeared in short films including Online Bodies, Golden Hour, and We Run to Be Free.
About Tom:
Tom Wynn Owen is an artist from the UK currently based in Brussels. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and the HFBK in Hamburg in the class of Jutta Koether.
