Shadows lurk in every corner of people’s lives. Both outdoors and indoors, these dark areas are everywhere but are extremely easy to overlook. However, a unique craftsman wants to change all that. Belgian artist and filmmaker Vincent Bal sees shadows as another art medium and, in his first-ever solo exhibition, The Art of Shadow, Bal utilizes objects, light, and clever positioning to create new images using shadows as a free resource. The result is a delightful collection of artworks created using just paper, pens, a light source, and everyday objects. The star of the show, however, are the shadows, transforming everyday doodles into fully-fledged characters and situations.

Bal calls himself a “Shadowologist,” which can be taken to mean an expert in shadows. While the title itself is humorous, it is completely accurate. Bal is an expert at understanding shadows and wielding them to create wonderfully playful works of art. In his work “Howl at the moon you must,” Bal uses the shadow cast by a Lego Yoda figure to create a silhouette of a wolf howling at the moon. With just a few lines of marker added to an otherwise unremarkable shadow, Bal transforms it into a full story, accompanied by his signature witty title. The effect is amusing, and Bal’s unique storytelling appeals to people of all ages. The Granite Tower (GT) had the opportunity to speak to the artist about Shadowology, his journey to the Seoul exhibition, and the advice he would give to young artists.

The Story Behind the Exhibition

Upon first entering the gallery, visitors can see Bal’s very first artwork involving shadows, signifying the exhibition’s start through the beginning of Bal’s own artistic journey. He began creating shadow-based art six years ago and kept playing around with and expanding the idea until it became the body of work it is now. According to Bal, he is unable to plan the shadow drawings ahead of time, but they come to him through sparks of inspiration on a near-daily basis now. The exhibition narrows down his massive body of work into what he believes are some of its highlights. A powerful addition to the walk through the museum is the screening room showing Bal’s 2020 short film Sea Shadow. The Dutch short tells the story of a young boy forced to stay home and do his schoolwork before a shadow changes the course of his day. The resulting story of the young Shadowologist is a playful exploration of a child’s imagination and the prevalence of shadows.

During his in-person visit to the exhibition space, Bal was able to see people’s reactions to his short film and other Shadowology works. The reactions of people gasping, laughing, and talking about his art were amazing, he says, especially following the period of social distancing in which social media was many people’s only way of connecting with him and his work. In fact, he says his worst fear is opening a restaurant because “I can imagine sitting there as a cook every night and seeing the people walk by the window and not come in,” so getting the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition overseas and have it be so well-attended by visitors was an honor and enormous relief for him.

The exhibition concludes with a section inspired by Korean products, such as soju bottles and hand fans. The shadows cast by the objects, coupled with Bal’s drawings, bring Korean culture to life in a unique way, connecting the exhibition to the city it is held in. The care taken by both Bal and the organizers in translating the titles of the artwork and adapting material for Korean visitors only adds to its charm. There is no condescension in the pieces, and the whimsy of the space is sure to inspire visitors. As the artist himself says, everyone is capable of drawing, and it is also an activity that can be both fun and relaxing, which his exhibition perfectly demonstrates.

Shadowology for All

Bal would be the first to humble himself and his achievements. He once said, “I think the sun is a much better artist than me.” According to him, his artistic process is guided by shadows first and foremost. The title and final details of the drawing are all based on what the shadows provide for him. The point of Shadowology is not forcing anything, but rather letting the cards fall as they may, and allowing the imagination to do most of the work. Visitors are also invited to enjoy a hands-on experience of Bal’s creative process through special stations at the end of the exhibition. Here, children and adults alike can experiment with various objects and shadows, creating artworks of their own that they can share later on Instagram, where Bal himself says he sees many of the pieces.

Bal’s philosophy and desire for visitors to use their own imagination leave a mark. He says he reads posts people upload from the exhibition, including their original shadow art interpretations. The internet has played an integral role in Bal’s success, as highlighted by his Instagram page, where he has amassed over 900,000 followers. The enjoyment viewers derive from his work lends itself to the content’s shareability, especially given that it is highly accessible even to those without a deep interest in art. Anyone looking to spend an hour or two surrounded by shadows, imagination, and witty puns is more than welcome to explore The Art of Shadow and experience it for themselves. Likewise, those interested in Bal’s life and work can find him on Instagram @vincent_bal, and people who want copies of his prints can find them both in the gift shop of the exhibition and through his Etsy shop “VincentBalDoodles.”

Exhibition Information

Title: The Art of Shadow

Venue: Museum 209

Date: November 11, 2022, to June 5, 2023

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (Final entry at 6:00 P.M.)

Ticket Price: 15,000 KRW for adults