Artist Statement
My artistic practice is rooted in the exploration of photography as both a representational and transformative medium. Drawing on the symbolic language of myths, the shared humor of memes, and personal memory, I question how visual narratives are constructed and perceived. Central to this inquiry is the photographic subject and the layers of meaning embedded in its representation.
Using analog methods—such as hand-built constructions made from paper and cardboard—I create temporary sculptural forms that I then photograph. This process allows me to shift between material presence and visual illusion. The analog gestures are further expanded through digital editing, creating a visual space where flatness and dimensionality co-exist in deliberate tension.
Color, spatial reduction, and compositional simplicity play a key role in shaping the identity of each work. The resulting images evoke a dialogue between photography and painting—not through mimicry, but through the creation of a hybrid visual language that resists categorization.
I am interested in the spaces between disciplines, and in using the tools of both photography and painting to construct new visual experiences—ones that are at once familiar and uncanny, tactile and abstract, documentary and fictional.
Biography
René Sikkes, born in Rotterdam and living in Germany since 1998, is a visual artist. After studying photography and a career as a computer scientist, he found a connection between these professional fields in the fine arts. He has been teaching webdesign at the HBK Essen since 2017.
2024
Maxhaus Residence, Nordhalben.
Shortlist CityArtists, NRW Kultursekretariat.
2022
Scholarship NRW Kultursekretariat for “Erlaubnisfelder”.
2021
Scholarship City of Gelsenkirchen for “Cross Border”.
2020
Scholarship the Sparkasse Foundation and the City of Gelsenkirchen.
Grant from the ‘Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW’.
2018
Residenz grant “Future Lab – Kunst in neuen digitalen Räumen”
Shortlist Vonovia Award “Best Photo Series”
2016
Laureate 1. RANOVA-Award 2016/2017
2013 – 2017
Fine Arts at the University of Fine Arts Essen, with prof. Thomas Wrede and prof. Carsten Gliese
Exhibitions
2024
Fotoarbeiten zur Entwicklung einer Stadt, Science Park, Gelsenkirchen
2023
“Seilschaften”, RKB, Essen.
“Pixelproject”, Neuaufnahmen Science Park, Gelsenkirchen
“City of Future”, Forum Kunst & Architektur, Essen
“Open Spaces III”, Halfmannshof, Gelsenkirchen
“Call it absolution”, SK Gallery, Gelsenkirchen
2021
“Phoenix”, Ruhländischer Künstlerbund, Essen
“Open Spaces II”, Künstlersiedlung Halfmannshof, Gelsenkirchen
2020
“Chapeau”, Forum Kunst & Architektur, Essen.
“ansehBar”, Galerie im Stadtraum, Gelsenkirchen
“Die Neuen”, Forum Kunst & Architektur, Essen
“Paperworks”, Projektbüro Halfmannshof, Gelsenkirchen
“What remains”, Gallery Ü109, Gelsenkirchen
2019
“Unter Umständen zusammenhangend”, StadtGalerie, Kunstverein Ahlen”So Konkret”, Mathildenhof, Essen
“Größer als klein”, BIG Gallery, Dortmund
“Grenzgang Fotokunst”, Wiesbadener Fototage, Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Wiesbaden
“Brennpunkte”, Forum Kunst und Architektur, Essen
“One Village”, solo-exhibition Szeniale, Gelsenkirchen
“Zuhause” – Kunstmuseum Bochum, Bochum
“Portrait”, Zwischenraum Ateliers, Schwerte
“Flowers”, Produzenten-Galerie 42, Dortmund
2018
“VERORTUNG”, Stadtmuseum Münster / Friedrich-Hundt-Gesellschaft e.V., Münster (FHG Münster)
“Storyboard”, solo-exhibition Gallery Obrist, Essen (+Basement Obrist)
“SCHAUfenster à la Art“, Kunstpreis des Landkreises Alzey-Worms, Wörrstadt
2017
“First Class“, Gallery Art Room, Düsseldorf (Art Room Düsseldorf)
“Future Artists Future“, Forum Kunst und Architektur, Essen (FKA Essen)
“Now“, Gallery Clowns und Pferde, Essen
“DIE GROSSE”, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf (DIE GROSSE Kunstausstellung NRW)
“Story-telling”, solo exhibition RANOVA, Unna
2016
“Winterausstellung ZKE Projekt“, Zeche Königin Elisabeth, Essen (Fotografie als Medium in der Kunst)
“Upcoming Masters of Photography DGPh“, Photokina, Köln
“Revierkunst“, Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund
“IN vitro“, Rechenzentrum der Universität zu Köln (Kunst im RRZK)