Humour, loneliness, sadness, taboo, escapism, the journey, the boat trip, optimism, the mask/masquerade—all of these are elements that recur in her paintings, collages, sculptures and actions. At the same time her practice and work also bear witness to a stubborn faith in the creative, material and moving powers of contemporary art.
Nel Aerts (°1987, Antwerp) focuses on an intermedial versus a (semi-)iconic way of handling materials and media. Furthermore, she observes how the position of the artist is misrepresented by the world. In her drawings, paintings that look like woodcuts that have got out of hand, performative videos and sculptural installation she questions how various media, artistic calling and the world relate, using a mix of tragedy, poetry, fiction, humour and art historical references.
The mad little chaps and little madams Aerts presents in her works evolved from droodles; they reflect on reality and mock the role that is projected on contemporary art. They bear the consequences of contradictions: they drink, they are sad, lonely, timid, and on the other hand, they are also funny.
BeursKafee: open from Wednesday – Saturday: > 5pm
