Viewing Kristof Santy: La Grande Bouffe

A carton of eggs, a succulent strawberry and a steaming coffee pot: this is an exhibition dedicated to the simple pleasures of everyday gastronomy. The 17 new paintings currently on display at Unit London are by Kristof Santy, the Belgian artist best known for his use of flat planes, bright colours and universal imagery that eludes any sense of narrative.

Inspired by a range of artists and aesthetics, from Philip Guston and Jean Brusselmans to Pop-Art and folk art, Santy considers himself a visual translator of the everyday. ‘The expressive way of painting plain subjects felt like an enormous freedom to me,’ he once said of his distinctive aesthetic.

Shown alongside close-up paintings of kitchen essentials like toasters, coffee pots, graters and corkscrews are larger works depicting points of sale such as a butcher’s shop and a fresh fish stall. There’s also a vibrant painting of a moored fishing boat, featuring a nonplussed dog and a trio of hungry birds eyeing up their prey. Not surprisingly, La Grande Bouffe is a visual feast to be savoured. Enjoy.