Avid readers and long-time followers of Exotiq may recognise Christian’s iconic work from our very first issue back in 2015. Following a Covid-induced hiatus, we’re grateful to have him back.
Covid felt like a time when we all disconnected from each other and adapted to different ways of life. Exotiq now includes a nifty QR code under the article so you can check out more of Christian’s work down below, while the artist continued his creative journey evolving his Chin Series into the 3D world of sculpting, and casting his lens back to his fashion background.
If you have spent much time in South East Asia you likely will have encountered Develter’s art, working here since the mid-nineties. Christian’s evolution as an artist spans various mediums. While celebrated for his expansive oil paintings, he’s embraced versatility, occasionally swapping brushes for chisels. His passion for the region’s dynamic lifestyle consistently fuels his art. Christian still owns a Pied-à-Terre in Bangkok for the bustling cosmopolitan atmosphere that thrives as inspiration for creatives, but has recently moved himself and his studio to Siem Reap; a small town enthralled by art and culture, creating in the shadows of Angkor Wat. Drawing upon both ends of this spectrum, as well as his studies in Fine Arts from Ghent.
Christian’s distinctive style is marked by portraits bursting with bold hues, sizes, and styles. His mastery of colour is riveting, drawing viewers into his expansive canvases. What truly captivates, however, is his meticulous attention to detail – understanding light, lines, and angles. This, coupled with vibrant colours, breathes life into his subjects.
There’s a mystical intrigue that Christian loves, making all his work great talking points. His portraits contain an essence of human emotion and create a dialogue between the art and its observer. Whether you find yourself communicating with the vivacious colours, the subjects and their portrayal, or the iconic Develter technical ability, he challenges modern standards in art.
Develter’s notorious Chin art series (which is now evolving into the Māra Chin sculpture series) began in 2012 when Christian visited the Chin State in North Western Myanmar. Christian expounds on the enormous joy he derives from working on this theme and evolving it into the sculpture series to further explore and give back to the culture.
Painting contemporary female faces, and then “tattooing” traditional Chin Tribal markings upon them, with each painting named after a village or area within the Chin region. This centuries-old tradition of face-marking is still prominent in the region today, distinguishing tribes and characters. Christian spent considerable time among the Chin people studying these multiplex patterns which have over time evolved to be symbols of feminine strength and beauty, as Chin women show off these markings, reflecting nature with pride.
The women are marked with thorns dripping with sap and, not for the faint-hearted, the blood of chickens, constructing intricate designs such as spiderwebs, the sun, or tiger whiskers.
Develter creates a convergence between a long-standing tradition that people may consider ugly, or savage, and applies it to a stunning, contemporary model of Asian beauty.
He seems to create a hereditary link and in turn a narrative between two worlds that couldn’t seem further apart, but is it so different to the world of make-up? Have our perceptions of beauty changed? Or merely the method? Christian’s Chin series provides a compelling narrative on how historically we have shaped ourselves, and how even now, we still attempt to create and define our own identities. Perhaps we aren’t as different as we once thought.
The Chin Series may be Christian’s most renowned, but it is by no means the limit of his creative mastery. In terms of his series, his Cigar Series is dotted around premier cigar clubs and lounges around the world. In February this year, he launched his latest show with Sautter London and The Rake Magazine, a star-studded event in Cromwell Place, London, showing off his limited edition Samaroli collaboration. Christian’s want to collaborate and create in new mediums, and with new people continues with the upcoming Hoegaarden project designing glassware and materials which prompts echoes of his series with Stella Artois, exploring the links between life and art, and the vice that seems to hold most the world in its delicious grip, a good drink.
If you’re looking to spot a Develter don’t feel the need to look too far. His art graces spaces ranging from exhibition halls to hotels. Christian’s calendar remains packed with exhibitions. with appearances at Kimpton Maa-lai, Bangkok, and InterContinental, Singapore, on the horizon. These hotels show off different Develters, the Kimpton, Maa-lai, for example, boasts the Develter Kimon robe in each of its rooms which contends for the most Instagrammed hotel robe of all time. Exhibition halls, hotels, or even bookshops, take an extra look around and see if you can spot one.
When discussing Develter and his body of work, don’t feel intimidated if you struggle to keep up, not many of us can. With sculptures, glasses, and NFTs around the corner expect to see more of Christian and his collaborations, which I imagine will only exponentially increase once he starts as the resident artist at Pullman’s, Maldives, in October.
His boundless exploration of colour, design, and creativity promises to reshape artistic perspectives. Amidst these explorations, he retains a sense of fun and beauty in his work – a force that unites, inspires contemplation, and perhaps, cradles a cold Stella Artois or Hoegaarden beer.
