— Frank Theys
Frank Theys (b. 1963) is a filmmaker, writer, and visual artist residing in Brussels and Amsterdam. His diverse audiovisual oeuvre encompasses video and interactive installations, documentary and experimental films, as well as theatrical performances. His works are represented in notable collections, including the MUHKA in Antwerp, S.M.A.K. in Ghent, and the Centre National de la Cinématographie in Paris.
Theys's practice is marked by a rigorous, scientific approach to existential inquiry. He employs technology not only as a tool but also as a subject of exploration, intertwining artistic concepts with dramatic themes and characters that undergo rigorous scientific analysis. This interplay often results in the transformation of human figures through technical manipulation of the image, with scientific imagery being recontextualized within an artistic framework.
Regarded as a pioneer of Belgian media art, Theys co-founded the Argos Centre for Art and Media in 1989, which has since gained international acclaim as a prominent venue for video art and new media.
He also played a foundational role in Dziga, the Belgian union for media artists, serving in various capacities including chairman, secretary, and government delegate. His curatorial contributions include the Victoria Festival (1994 and 1995), an international performance festival in Ghent, Beeldenstorm II (2004), a media art festival in Kortrijk, and The Brainstorm Sessions (2014), a multidisciplinary festival focused on the intersection of art and brain research held at the Brakke Grond in Amsterdam.
Following his tenure as house director for the Victoria Theatre in Ghent, Theys established his own media production company, Votnik. In 2011, he further expanded his collaborative practice by co-founding Escautville alongside fellow artists Wim Catrysse, Jos de Gruyter & Harald Thys, Ria Pacquée, Koen Theys, and curator Ulrike Lindmayr. Through these endeavors, Theys continues to shape the landscape of contemporary media art, blending scientific inquiry with artistic expression to explore the complexities of human existence.