‘Charline Tyberghein’s paintings are neither abstract nor
figurative. Their (...) candid style [is] appealing to the eye, yet
they hide a multitude of possible stories and associations. The
works are characterized by a compellingly poetical visual
language and a moving simplicity, leaving enough mystery for
the viewer’s imagination to toy with.’ – Tamara Beheydt in
Modesty First, a talk with Charline Tyberghein

A finer route to oblivion is a two-sided, free hanging, painting by Belgian artist Charline Tyberghein. Her visual universe is populated by recurring pictograms, symbols that generate different meanings based on their combination, much like a personal alphabet. In a sense, each painting can be understood as a self-portrait. However, the universal meaning of the pictograms leaves room for the viewer’s own reading. In this way, each image is as much Tyberghein's, as it is the viewer's. Tyberghein’s combination of her visual poetry, humor and tenderness in combination with the trompe l’oeil technique creating depth in the two-sided free hanging painting results in a compelling tableau that draws you in, triggering your emotional imagination.
A finer route to oblivion can be understood to speak of balances in empathic relationships; how far do you go with someone's 'highs and lows'? And is empathy always sincere?

2021 – airbrush and acrylic on wood, 185x150 cm

Commissioned by STUK, House for Dance, Image & Sound in the context of Wired for Empathy (2021)

Courtesy the artist