Bouk de Roeck

Bouk de Roeck (1999) began exploring art at an early age, first through drawing and sketching, and later through graffiti painting.

During secondary school, Bouk was particularly drawn to the arts, and applying to art school felt like a natural next step. When the opportunity to attend did not materialise, he explored whether studying at the HvA might be right for him. He soon realised, however, that he wanted to return to what he loved most: making art.

Bouk subsequently began working with digital art in Photoshop, drawing inspiration from the natural world and creating works through photographic manipulation. Although he found the process inspiring, it also meant that the works could be reproduced multiple times, prompting Bouk to look for a more unique and tangible approach to making art.

In 2024, he decided to return to working with his hands, and soon developed a style of his own. Within a single year, Bouk had exhibited his work in several major European cities, including Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Innsbruck and Monaco.

My work is inspired by nature and documentaries about the ocean. The images they reveal spark ideas that unfold into surreal worlds, where marine life merges with the world above the water. I bring these worlds to life through unique, handmade sculptures.

Each piece begins as a sculpture, which I fire in my ceramic kiln before glazing it or finishing it with an airbrush. I usually display my sculptures in acrylic glass cases, using blue acrylic glass when I wish to evoke the sensation of being underwater.

In my surreal worlds, creatures from above the water often find themselves beneath the surface. I bring this vision to life by placing real butterflies on my coral-inspired sculptures. I use real insects for the distinctive colours and intricate patterns of their wings. Once assembled in its case, each sculpture becomes a surreal world in its own right.

Through my work, I hope to encourage people to look beyond what they see and engage their imagination with the worlds I bring to life.