Artist statement

In the digital expanse where pixels transcend their basic functions and evolve into a dynamic language of visual expression,

Musketon - the alter ego of Bert Dries - emerges as a next-gen navigator of the digital canvas.

As a child of the Information Age and being a spectator of the first mainstream digital transformation - where digital

content flourished for the very first time - he matured to become a cultural producing and multidisciplinary artist of the first

generation digital natives. Musketon’s work embodies the convergence of art and technology, crafting a universe

where the boundaries of traditional media dissolve into the fluidity of technological innovations for creators.

Like many others of the current generation digital artists, Musketon traversed the world of commercial agency work in his

early career, for whom he created autonomous pieces during the first decade of his practice and earned global recognition

in an early stage for his unique and well-crafted visual language.

Always inspired and driven by mass/popular culture he worked for corporates such as MTV, Audi, Red Bull and Nike.

The duality he experienced of being an artistic contributor to brand strategies and a consumer simultaneously, enabled

him to develop a unique and critical perspective over the years. Rooted in ideas that deal with consumerism, human

self-expression, identity and the general absurdity of our cultural, political system, all these reasonings translate into

works that reflect a profound dialogue between the artist and the ever-expanding digital landscape, exploring human

created ecosystems that shape the world we live in. As his career grew, so did the message behind his work, evolving

from a creator for corporate clients into a contemporary visual storyteller of our rapidly changing society.

Each work is an invitation to engage in a contemplative experience, where each composition serves as a portal to a

unique, introspective journey of hyper-detailed - vector based - pieces merging popular cultural and political commentary

into bold, through-provoking visual narratives.

Iconic - Art & Cultural historical - references often form a starting point for his bigger pieces, serving as a catalyst to

create a familiar looking entrance point. Once entered Musketon’s work, each piece serves as a mirror, full of easter

eggs to discover, reflecting the contrasts and contradictions of contemporary life echoing the themes of consumer

society while simultaneously questioning its impact. His work, resonating in its familiarity, invite the spectator to pause

and contemplate the realities we so often take for granted.

By using digital resources that give meaning to his work and considering digital as his absolute, fully-fledged medium

he expands his artistic position beyond the traditional boundaries of the art market and pushes those of conventional

art forms, empathising a deep engagement on culture and society through digital platforms and media. Musketon

challenges us to question our relationship with contemporary culture and technology. In doing so, Musketon reshapes

our understanding of the digital era’s role in artistic expression.

Text: Thomas De Ben (Curator, Art creative)