‘Whispers in the breeze, seeking shade’

Jun 22

22.06.2024 — 01.09.2024

Exhibition view, ‘Whispers in the breeze seeking shade’, PLUS-ONE Gallery, 2024

In the ephemeral dialogue between light and shadow, where the whispers of nature merge with human expression, artists come together to explore the delicate interplay of visibility and darkness. The summer group exhibition at PLUS-ONE Gallery titled 'Whispers in the breeze, seeking shade' invites you to immerse yourself in a world where the line between light and shadow fades. Where the delicacy of a whisper seeks peace in the shadowed corners of the perception.

Participating artists: Filip Vervaet, Jean-Pierre Temmerman, Lars Morell and Renée Pevernagie.

The relationship between humans, artificiality, and nature assumes a significant role in the work of Filip Vervaet (°1977). As you step into Vervaet's world, you enter a twilight realm brimming with intrigue and serenity. His work weaves together different layers, evoking the echoes of art history and sculptural traditions. It reveals his mastery of bending nature to his will. In his idiosyncratic visual language, he seamlessly combines diverse materials. Vervaet consistently pushes the boundaries of sculpture, employing an assemblage of materials and techniques. Vervaet’s mind moves freely between ideas, chaos, and artistic order. It emanates a diffuse quality, embodying both contemporary expression and a rich sculptural heritage.

Both small, intimate watercolour paintings and large, monumental works are on view by Jean-Pierre Temmerman (°1957 - 2017). The idyllic, dreamy works Temmerman makes on small pieces of paper recall nature and landscape scenes. A large spectrum of often oxidized shades of green and brown predominate the works. Time is an important factor as it often takes more than 10 years before the works get their mysterious depths and oxidized colours. The result of a long and patiently executed process. By strongly enlarging some of these smaller watercolour paintings, Temmerman is creating (monu)mental landscapes that invite the viewer to watch, dream and travel in the mind. The enlargement results in powerful yet sensitive works.

The work of Lars Morell (°1980) encompasses and questions the visible/invisible and what seems to be something that it is not. This iconography has been thoroughly developed, outlining a space where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred. Distorted shapes, seemingly growing over the canvas, elegantly point back to previous series of painting, drawing, photography and sculpture. We see coloured constructs that at first glance are reminiscent of branching root systems; we recognize the outlines of chains and hooks. It is as if the "veil" that earlier seemed to cover the entire field of vision in his shadow images is blown away, revealing not just the remains of what once cast shadows, but an overwhelming, luminescent space. Morell develops these works out of figuration and sees them as distorted still lives, as a dilemma between abstraction and representational painting and sculpture.

Starting from a fascination for plants, buildings, people, and landscapes in transition Renée Pevernagie (°1990) acts as a keen observer. She distills her impressions into pared-down, often monumental, drawings. Her unique drawing technique, combined with her approach to these subjects, imbues the work with a sense of fragility and transience. Images are meticulously scratched out using drawing tools fashioned from bits of steel wool. The technique creates minuscule lines in charcoal to achieve varied shading, creating soft or bright effects. The underlying grid pattern interacts with the scratched areas, creating friction emphasized by a pigment layer, adding texture reminiscent of a canvas painting. Together, these artists create a contemplative space where whispers of the ephemeral and the eternal converge. ‘Whispers in the breeze, seeking shade’ is an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to find solace in the delicate interplay of light and shadow. As you navigate through the exhibition, may you find yourself attuned to the subtle dialogues that unfold, discovering the beauty that resides in the quiet, shaded moments of existence.