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Artist Interview : David Delruelle



Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and your work

I’m 34 and I live and work in Brussels, Belgium. I studied illustration and graphic design there too. I work with found imagery since 2013. During the first few years I was working on paper collages, then progressively went to digital. Right now I only work on digital collage and video collage.

What set you off as an artist ?

I love art since I was a kid. I’m very interested in contemporary and conceptual art. I decided to study in this field pretty late, I was working in a bookshop, an in 2009 one of my colleague told me : «David, you need to go back to school and study art, you love this too much ». I listened to her. Thank you Gazalee.


Tell us about the themes you pursue in your work

The main part of my researches is to try to understand what makes pictures. How we watch them. How we use them. How we share and remember things through them. Collage is simple and very evocative at the same time. It has the power to tell so much with very little means. This force of evocation never cease to amaze me. It’s in a place between language and pictorial representation. My goal is to explore this place.



What art do you most identify with? any specific influences or research areas ?

I think we can say I make minimalist collage.

Is there something you couldn't live without in your studio ? what is your most essential tool ?

The exacto knife and a good ruler.


Tell us how you organise, plan, and prioritise your work

First I collect images. I buy lots of old magazines and photo books. I cut the material that inspires me in them. Then I navigate through the piles of pictures, letting ideas come and go, trying things. I scan what I’m going to use and start working on the composition in Photoshop.

How do you navigate the art world ?

I go to art galleries and museums, but also spend (too much) time on instagram, watching art accounts.


Describe the trajectory of your career as an artist so far

I started my career with a collaboration with Italian born, Brussels based galerist Francesco Rossi. I worked on two solo shows and two group shows in his gallery Rossicontemporary between 2014 and 2016. I don’t work with a galerist for the moment but had the chance to show my work in numerous art spaces in Belgium, Italy, Canada, Mexico, USA and Portugal.


Professionally, what is your goal ?

I don’t have a career plan. I just wish I can continue working and showing my work, the work has to live. I have a second job to pay the bills.

Are there any upcoming exhibitions or projects in the works ?

I have two shows this month in Brussels during Parcours d’Artistes Saint-Gilles : Memorabilia, a solo show where I exhibit collages from my Memorabilia series in digital billboards in the streets of Saint-Gilles; and a group show called FAMILIEFOTO’S with the collective La Nombreuse, also exhibiting in the streets (Rue du Fort and Parvis de Saint-Gilles). I recently made a music video for Belgian band Under The Reefs Orchestra with my friend Yoann Stehr. Here’s the link to watch it : https://youtu.be/MlPgpc0oMuU




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