Christian Develter

About

Internationally renowned artist Christian Develter uses oils as an instrument to portray his rich experiences of people and cultures around the world. As a highly versatile artist whose work pushes boundaries, he believes that despite cultural differences and starkly different socio-realities, there is an impact that can be appreciated by everyone. These moments are the trigger of his inspiration.

Born in 1968 in Blankenberge - Belgium, Christian studied art at Ghent Art School and was trained at the famous Antwerp Fashion Academy (responsible for Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester), soon to realize his passion for painting exceeded his love for fashion. Always joyful in composition, he presents a radiant kaleidoscope of shapes and forms. His choice to combine rough passion with playful humour and bright colours speaks to the artist’s interpretations of popular fashions and trends.

Christian captures the sense of beauty, individual strength and spirit of his protagonists through careful consideration of line, lighting and geometry. His perspicacious awareness of the power of colour uniquely reveals beneath the surface of each character. At the heart of these works is a search not just for physical beauty but also for the strength of the spirit that embraces and motivates each one of us when looking to icons and celebrities with impact.

The uniqueness of Christian’s work lies in his radical choice of strong colours and mixture of oils and acrylics, often combined with bold shapes. His works are deeply powerful and compelling in the way they capture light and space, translating the artist’s desire to create large iconic works.

Each of his iconic works emanate layers of turbulence with impeccable style and sensuality. The approach is highly evocative and emotive, resulting in a visual feast for the observer. His artistic creations offer a clear insight into his working process and influences, for under the modish contemporary façade, lies a classical working approach re-utilizing traditional painting techniques fashioned by the old Flemish Masters. Continuing an ancient tradition by combining it with daring boldness and innovation.

Develter’s world acclaimed works are housed in some of the most spectacular properties and art collections across the globe including that of Royalty. His works are also on permanent display in legendary hotels including that of the Mandarin Oriental – Bangkok and the Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel - Rio de Janeiro.

The ever-evolving journey of Christian and his creations have gone on to inspire runway collections circling back to Christian’s former passion for fashion and design. Along with international brand collaborations with the likes of Siglo, Samaroli and Stella Artois.

Artwork Series

Chin Series

Christian’s incredible passion for travel, culture and heritage in the ever-changing world of today is where the story of this series began.

Back in 2012 Christian travelled extensively through the tribal region of North-West Myanmar. Captivated by the evolution of the Chin tribe located on the China/Myanmar border Christian sought to understand their story. This inspirational trip was the trigger on his artistic creations.

The inspiration behind Christian’s captivating Chin Series comes from the intricately tattooed Chin women located in the North-Western region of Myanmar.

This striking series is an invitation to explore the artist’s contemporary narrative of evolving cultures through his district creative style.

he concept behind the works being the modern cultured face of today, overlayed with the tribal tattoos of where we have come from - grounding us back to our cultural roots and heritage.

Through this evolving body of work Christian seeks to bring attention to the empowerment of women. The intricate tattoos once seen to symbolise belonging have transformed into a symbol of strength and beauty; reflecting nature – especially the animal and plant kingdom - and the animist beliefs of the tribe.

As a tribute to his inspiration each painting from this series is named after a village or area within the Chin region.

About the Tribe

The Chin tribe and their tattoos are relatively unknown to the outside world. These tribes in north-western Myanmar (Chin and Rakhine State) to this day use tattoo facial markings that is a centuries old tradition to distinguish one hill tribe from another along with their marital status and social ranking. Together with the Derung tribe in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, they are the only other tribe known to adhere to this traditional ancient practice. Both tribes are believed to be from the same Indo-Tibetan lineage.

These multiplex patterns are carved into the skin by thorns using a mixture of sap from a local plant (sourced in the jungle for the colour), ash and chicken blood or buffalo kidney. According to legends, these ornate tattoos were originally done so that Burmese Kings would not be able to steal women away as wives. They have however, evolved to become symbols of strength and beauty; reflecting nature – especially the animal and plant kingdom - and the animist beliefs of the tribe.

For generations women have been willing to submit themselves to the pain of this art for the beauty it represents to them and their tribe. Deep in the unforgiving hills and jungle of the Chin State tattoos are still being carved on faces of young girls coming to age despite being forbidden by the government. With the opening of Myanmar’s borders, these women will soon come to represent the last of their kind.

Tio Chin - Original Oil on Canvas - 150cm x 170cm.jpeg

Ong Chin - Original Oil on Canvas - 120cm x 100cm.jpg

Cian Chin - Original Oil on Canvas - 150cm x 170cm.jpeg

Myui Chin- Original Oil on Canvas - 150cm x 170cm.jpeg

Pakokku Chin - Original Oil on Canvas - 150cm x 170cm.jpg

Cigar Series

Christian’s sense of beauty and the individual strength and spirit of his protagonists is developed through careful consideration of line, lighting and geometry as well as his perspicacious awareness of the power of colour to reveal that which is behind the surface of each character. At the heart of these works is a search not just for physical beauty but also for something of the spirit that embraces and motivates each one in our era of hyper celebrity.

Cigar Series Inspiration

Christian’s iconic works are symbolic of the joy that emanates from them, including that of his world acclaimed ‘Cigar’ Series’ comprising of both Original Oil on Canvas Paintings sized at 1m x 1.2m to 1.5m x 1.7m and his Limited Edition Archival Lithographs. This renowned body of work are housed in some of the most prestigious Cigar Clubs and Lounges around the world, including that of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and the Raffles Hotel Phnom Penh. It is this Cigar Series which renowned cigar brand SIGLO has collaborated with Christian on to create their best-selling limited edition humidor collection. These unique handcrafted masterpieces are made from Spanish cedar wood finished with up to 15 layers of lacquer.

What is admirable beyond the choice of Christian’s subjects, is precisely that stubbornness, which characterizes him, to be adamant in that hyper-finished, almost exaggerated style, specific to the make-up of dramatic stage and, of cinema as we know it between the nineteen thirties and the Nouvelle Vague. The recurrent light-hearted feeling, the absence of anguish, which can, arguably, reduce Develter to a "pop" or "glamorous", which others may refer to as a "fashion" painter. Yet beyond the choice of his subjects, is his calculated, almost mathematical use of colour, which brings an intense vibration and sensuality to his work which is at once festive.