Ultimately, what unites the work of Aäron Willem and Willem Vermeersch is their shared openness to "loose ends" and "lucky turns."
Loose Ends & Lucky Turns presents the works of two contemporary artists: Aäron Willem and Willem Vermeersch. While each artist follows a distinct creative path, they are united by their shared approach to the artistic process—one that is intuitive, unstructured, and deeply spontaneous.
Neither artist works with preliminary drafts or studies; instead, they engage in a direct, unplanned creation, drawing from their immediate surroundings—thoughts, objects, and fleeting images. They begin without a fixed concept or end result in mind, allowing the artwork to evolve naturally. It is only when the piece feels complete that the final form reveals itself, often in unexpected ways.
Aäron Willem’s practice leans toward the figurative, and he is often described as the "painter of synthesis." His works are a layered fusion of portraits, places, and objects, creating rich, complex compositions. By painting multiple layers of portraits—of family members, friends, celebrities, and even strangers—he builds a visual dialogue that transcends individual identities, uniting people through art and thus inviting you into his extended family. His "Fuller Places" series similarly intertwines locations and events, blending them into one unified image. In his most recent works, Aäron translates the images conjured in his mind while reading books, creating a visual synthesis of a story—without words.
In contrast, Willem Vermeersch’s approach is more abstract, focusing on the transformation of objects and ideas as they are removed from their original contexts and reimagined in new environments. His work does not prescribe a singular meaning, but instead opens itself to endless interpretation, inviting viewers to find their own narratives. Whether it is a branch, a printer, or a simple red line on the canvas, each element is chosen because it “feels right” within the evolving composition. Vermeersch’s paintings unfold over time, sometimes spanning years, and are only deemed finished when the work intuitively reaches its final form.
Ultimately, what unites the work of Aäron Willem and Willem Vermeersch is their shared openness to "loose ends" and "lucky turns." Both artists embrace the unpredictability of the creative process, allowing chance and intuition to guide their work toward completion.
