AMSTERDAM.- From Friday 9 January until 16 January 2004 Sotheby’s Amsterdam will host the exposition "Bernard Bergman, UNFOLDED" . The exhibition comprises circa sixty paintings by the Belgian artist and businessman Bernard Bergman. The paintings vary in sizes from monumental to minuscule works, with all sizes in between. 

Bernard Bergman (Antwerp, 1937) is well known as a designer and a businessman. Less known is that he has dedicated himself to painting for several decades; a creative force that he has kept to himself.  Now, for the first time, his paintings will be on public exhibition; an exciting moment for the artist. The title of the exhibition, "UNFOLDED", refers to two aspects of his art. First, the unfolding of the artist, who now exposes his paintings to the critical eye of the beholder. Secondly the title refers to what can be experienced in his works. Bergman seems to create the illusion that a thin fleece or membrane has just been unfolded. Sometimes it has the effect that light shines through an ultra thin gaze, in other works the subject seems to be covered with a thin foil. This magical fine-painting has a mesmerising effect on the beholder. It makes him wonder how it is technically possible to create such an intriguing illusion. At the same time he will experience the enchantment of the hidden world of Bernard Bergman: one can’t help but wonder what lays hidden behind the membrane. The beholder can let his or her fantasy run free and enjoy the enchantment of shape and colour. 

During the past forty years Bernard Bergman has established himself in several creative fields. He has been active as an interior designer, a film producer and finally, in commercial life, in real estate. Starting with "haute coiffure", he moved on to textile -  textile design and fashion design. After his acquisition of the famous Esders company in Antwerp, his designs proudly set foot upon the catwalk. If one needs something, one can go buy it in a shop or one can design it and make it oneself.... Bernard Bergman has adopted the latter point of view and demonstrates that creativity has no limits. He has designed furniture, a.o. a chromed tubular daybed, wrought iron furniture and fences for his French residence and rugs for Maxime’s, with the Art nouveau ornaments typical of the renown restaurant. On the occasion of the wedding of his daughter Isabelle, he designed a gold and diamond necklace for the bride.