As a visual artist, I look for images that witness a thorough working process. Every action that happens is simultaneously a seed and a harvest. The action as a catalyst for the image. Actions can be directed, but are at their best when there is an unpredictable factor at play in the action. Time, temperature, weather, a lack/physical inability to direct an action 100 percent are good examples of unpredictable factors. The act is not the end, but a means to a residue. I think a residue is much more credible than a directed end result, which is why I am looking for (directed) residues. Of course, every action is guided by the artist's ability to act, but I try to install 'stumbling blocks' for myself during the making process to detach the result from the action. For example, in my series "the new mills," panels are painted in dozens =of layers, creating a surface that cannot be controlled by the characteristics of the paint, drying time, humidity, temperature and time. It is possible to completely cover each previous layer of paint with a new layer, but it is impossible to keep that layer flat. A relief is created that is simultaneously made, is a residue and yet is credible as a composition. The large installations, mostly outdoor works, hover between functional-looking construction site installations, and restored artifacts from a non-existent past. I work with both new and found materials, the combination of which immediately puts me on a particular track when I begin a new work. A color, or a material immediately determines an atmosphere, which I can then build on. My oeuvre is very multidisciplinary. Sculpture, with many materials, painting, works on paper, monumental and very small formats, the spectrum is huge, and it is necessary, because so is the world around us. I even have my own merchandise.I show my work in museums, but also in a church square, in off-spaces, galleries and wherever possible in public spaces. All these places have a different character, different visitors, different needs. My work has to stand up in all these circumstances, literally and figuratively. What 'glues' my entire oeuvre together is the fact that all works arise from labor, actions (sometimes very repititive) and a creative process without a clearly predetermined plan. My hand hovers around the materials, as it were, and I listen intently to what they have to say.

CV

Willem Boel      Born in 1983 Lives & works in Ghent, BE

Selected Exhibitions

2023 Spelen: the nature of the game / Wiels / Brussel, BE Soon, you'll be eaten / Barbé Gallery / Ghent, BE Stories Unfold: Neighbours / Rubenskasteel / Zemst, BE Sancho Don't Care / Renewi / Desteldonk, BE Ravel Ravel / Ontsteking / Ghent, BE Pretty Standard / Wilford X / Temse, BE Calypso / Migratiemuseum / Molenbeek, BE Ivy, Van Gogh in de Vlaamse Ardennen / Zwalm, BE In Medias Res / Barbé Gallery / Ghent, BE
I try to imagine how your texture felt like / Sint-Pieterskerk / Ypres, BE Give me an answer / Matthys-Colle collection Studio Marie Cloquet / Ghent, BE Gist / Sluis van Ruisbroek / Ruisbroek, BE Eldorado / De Goudblomme / Dudzele, BE Because every house tells a story / Duffel, BE Archipel / Deweer estate / Otegem, BE A new space to flow / Gallery Ysebaert / Sint-Martens Latem, BE
Amare / Blauwe zaal / Brugge, BE Sculptura: A journey of discovery / Gare maritime / Brussels, BE Women and children first festival / 404 / Ghent, BE

2022 Die Wirklichkeit ist sowieso da / Weltkunstzimmer / Düsseldorf, DE Sunniest hour of your night / Ti-Pi / Ghent, BE Stormloop / Grote Markt / Herentals, BE Labor / CAL / Charleroi, BE Kunst in Puurs / CC Binder / Puurs, BE El Cuarto Flamenco— Galeria Hilario Galguera — Madrid, ES (Your text here) duoshow with Ellen Pil / DMW gallery / Antwerp, BE

2021 Bienvenue Paris / Hotel la Louisiane / Galeria Hilario Galguera / Paris, FR 1.1 Million Pounds / Barbé Urbain Gallery / Ghent, BE Trockenwohnen / Kunstverein Peschkenhaus / Moers, DE Resurrection Series / Sint-Antonius-Abtkerk Meulestede / Ghent, BE Biënnale Beeldig / Hof ter Saksen / Beveren, BE XL / Barbé Urbain Gallery / Ghent, BE Ballroom Project / Borgerhub / Borgerhout, BE Trauma / Triënnale van Brugge / Poortersloge / Bruges, BE La Pioggia / Artissima Torino, IT Xenia / MILL / Molenbeek, BE Grote Prijs Ernest Albert / De Garage / Mechelen, BE L’ivresse du jeu / Art Rotterdam, NL

2020 An unfinished project / Galerija Vartai / Vilnius, LT You know, the works / Ontsteking / Ghent, BE Post tenebras spero lucem / Galeria Hilario Galguera / Mexico-City, MX Intersect / Galeria Hilario Galguera / Chicago, US Not out of mind, not out of sight / Riga, LV Carbon Copy / Bruthausgallery / Claessens Canvas / Waregem, BE Ballroom Project / online group show / Antwerp, BE

2019 Not out of mind, not out of sight / Nature House / Tartu, EE Biennale Van België / Floraliënhal / Ghent, BE Sancho Don’t Care / MOLA / Wachtebeke, BE Growlers, Cracklers & Bursters / Ciap kunstverein / Hasselt, BE Not out of mind, not out of sight / Latvia & Estonia, LV & EE

2018 Sancho Don’t Care / Populierenhof / Nieuwkerken Waas, BE
M-Idzomer / Museum M / Leuven, BE Sancho Don’t Care / Bruzis / Cesis, LV Sancho Don’t Care / Kulturmoedet / Mors, DK Deer Fountain / 019 / Ghent, BE Banner / Sancho Don’t Care #05 / Hjörring, DK

2017 Jeune Création Biennale / Montrouge, FR JCE Biennale / Amarante / Portugal, PT JCE Biennale / Figueras / Spain, ES

2016 JCE Biennale / Wroclaw, PL D’Art / Artenova / Mechelen, BE SAGAS / Hangar 18 / Brussel, BE Sorry not sorry / book launch & expo at 019 / Ghent, BE
Cachet de la poste faisant foi / fondation Hippocrène / Paris, FR

2015 Die sublieme Esthetica / In de ruimte / Ghent, BE Un grain de toute Beauté / Palais de Tokyo / Paris, FR
Paris La Défense, change de point de vue / Tour EDF, La Défense / Paris, FR
60e Salon De Montrouge /Winner Grand Prix / Montrouge, FR

2014
Petite Pièce / Galerie L’ile / Paris, FR
De Nieuwe Molens / Centrale for contemporary art / Brussel, BE

2013
SERIES / Kunstwerkt / Zuiderpershuis / Antwerpen, BE
My sweet design fair — intervention / Dutch Design Week / Eindhoven, NL

Prizes
2021
Eervolle vermelding / Grote prijs Ernest Albert / Mechelen, BE

2016
Frank Nobelsprijs voor beloftevol kunstenaar

2015
Grand prix de la Biennale de Jeune Création Européenne (JCE)
Grand prix du Salon de Montrouge

Publications

Sancho Don't Care (2022)
Monograph: 240p, published by B&L MER
Concept & text by Ory Dessau
Graphic design by Studio Luc De Rycke & Viktor Van den Braembussche.
Photography by Michiel De Cleene, Koen Vernimmen, Alwin Vevey

You know, the works (2021)
Catalogue: 128p, Graphic design: Bureau Boschberg
Photograpy: Alwin Vyvey, Michiel De Cleene, Willem Boel

A see of green (2017)
Catalogue: 16p, Graphic design: Ine Meganck
Photograpy: Michiel De Cleene, Willem Boel, Koen Vernimmen
Text: Luc De Ryck, Raoul Degraeve, Melanie Deboutte

De visionaire mossels / les moules visionaires / the visionary mussels
Book: 72p, Graphic design: Ine Meganck Photography: Koen Vernimmen Text: Stéphane Corréard, Eva Barois de Caevel, Alexis Jakubowicz, Melanie Deboutte 2015