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Bio

 

Artist statement:

My work consists of a diversity of experimental paintings, sculptures, and graphic interventions, which I often combine in an installation-like manner to form a cohesive whole. My artistic process begins with an intense exploration that is primarily based on intuitive material experiments that follow one another systematically. This results in images that are located at the intersection between figuration and abstraction, which I then place in a context to give them meaning. A striking example of this is my series of reverse glass paintings, born out of the question of what a painting would look like on the back. I use acrylic paint, spray paint, and collage techniques behind glass for this. Although the creation process is highly artisanal, the end result suggests that it has been digitally created. In addition to reverse glass paintings, I also make sculptures and ceramics. By using familiar materials and approaching them in a new way, a contrast arises between the familiar form and its new interpretation. I strive to create works that speak to the viewer at a deeply rooted level through the use of texture, surface, shape, and color.

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My interest lies in the relationship between human and image representation. I try to make the viewer look at my work in an attentive way through estrangement and disorientation. The estrangement applies to both the content of the work and the way it is made. I use personal, historical, social, and political stories to offer the viewer a window into the world. By researching folklore and cultural traditions, I explore the ways in which history and myth have shaped our contemporary understanding of the world. Using recognizable images and familiar materials, I examine the relationships between seemingly opposing themes such as creation and violence, brutality and beauty, growth and destruction.

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My work aims to create a dialogue between the past and the present, between the material and the conceptual, and between the individual and the collective. By drawing on the legacy of artists who have come before me, I try to create works that are deeply rooted in tradition as well as innovative in their approach to form, content, and meaning.

 

Bio:

Niels Vaes, born in 1987, is a Belgian artist working and living in Hasselt. 

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Former studies:

Name of institute: Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg

City: Hasselt (Limburg) 3500

Study from/till: 2005-2010

Department: Fine arts

Diploma title: Master in fine arts.

Main subject: sculpture

Diploma date: 03.07.2010

2024​

  • 'Kunst.Vormen', MAD-gallery, Hasselt (Belgium)

  • 'SELECT', Birgittijnenklooster curated by Jos Herck, Borgloon (Belgium)

  • 'Kunstennacht', VONK curated by Stefanie De Bakker, Hasselt (Belgium)

  • 'Je bent een beetje te laat.', Moment festival Tongeren curated by Maxim Renard, Tongeren (Belgium)

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2023

  • 'The date is great and the height is fine. But tall is all the tower will be' (solo exhibition), Red Herring Salon, Antwerp

  • 'I don't know if it's real, but I like the way it feels', duo show with Pierre-Louis Graizon, Salon Brecht Van Dam, Brussels

  • 'CAMERA OBSCURA', Copper&Light, Ostend (Belgium)

  • 'Traces', Neue Gallery, Berlin (Germany)

  • 'HORTES HORTI HORTO', Kalf space, Hasselt (Belgium)

  • 'Kleinsculptuur', CC Zwaneberg, Heist-op-den-Berg (Belgium) 

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2022

  • 'Staarmodus', duo show with Manu Engelen, Ponti Gallery Space, Antwerp (Belgium)

  • 'COOP Kunst', Copper&Light, Antwerp (Belgium)

  • 'ILYSM', Breedlijn, Antwerp (Belgium)

  • 'PEEP SHOW', Copper&Light at Gosset site, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'Uitgestald-1', Uitstalling Gallery, Genk (Belgium)

  • Residency: Arctic Circle Residency Program: https://thearcticcircle.org/safari/ (Spitsbergen)

  • 'It's time to meet them', curated by Maxim Renard, Tongeren (Belgium)

  • 'Speaking chairs', a project by Onbetaalbaar Ghent in co-operation with CAMPO, 019ghent, designmuseumgent, Ghent (Belgium)

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2021

  • 'Portraits#1', Veduta VZW - curated by Arthuur Dufoor & Elias Driesen, Lavallée, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'PRELUDE', invite by Tatjana Pieters & Barbé Urbain, Ghent (Belgium)

  • 'ULTERIEUR 20.21', AVEE Gallery, Firma, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'A talk with the sun', artist initiative collab with Steven Antonio Manes, Tour&Taxis, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'KABINET', artist initiative by Twan Kerckhofs, Aaron Victor Peeters and Kirsten Vanlangenaeker and Fien Cox, Genk (Belgium)

  • 'Loop naar de maan', Stichting Promotie Limburgse Kunstenaars, Heerlen (The Netherlands)

  • 'Belgian Art and Design Fair', Ghent (Belgium)

  • 'The Grand Opening', Copper&Light at Balthasar, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'Auralogie', invited by Gökhan Shapo Girginol, Genk (Belgium)

  • 'PONTI PONTI PONTI', Ponti Gallery space, Antwerp (Belgium)

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2020

  • 'ULTERIEUR', AVEE Gallery, Kortrijk (Belgium)

  • 'COMPOSTE', invite by Luc Vrydaghs&Els Wuyts, Steenhuize (Belgium)

  • 'A conversation about life and death', invite by Adel Setta (Loods des doods) and Kevin Kotahunyi (Please add color), Antwerp (Belgium)

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2019

  • 'Price: Government manager + life time achievement award​ VVBB', Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'KONVOOI', Entrepot, Brugge (Belgium)

  • 'JINGLE BALLS III', Onbetaalbaar, Ghent (Belgium)

  • 'Nationa(a)l Artist supermartket', Vanderborght building, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'Kleinsculptuur', CC Zwaneberg, Heist-op-den-Berg (Belgium) 

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2018

  • 'Ghost@deSingel', Ghost, Antwerp (Belgium)

  • 'ART POP POP ART', Kunstnetwerk Haspengouw, Heks (Belgium)

  • 'C-takt #2', collab with Tom Herck, C-mine, Genk (Belgium)

  • 'Ring ring', Het LABO, Hasselt (Belgium)

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2017

  • 'Swimming pool expo', Swallowing Helmets, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'The decoy', Smartlab, Hasselt (Belgium)

  • 'Let's play house' (solo exhibition), b-roof gallery, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'Jardin Maritime II', Jardin Maritime, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'Motif', Alley, Hasselt (Belgium)

  • 'Black to the future', Het LABO, Genk (Belgium)

  • 'Jardin Maritime III', Jardin Maritime, Brussels (Belgium)

  • 'Conscienza Fest II', Marina Kazakova, Tongres (Belgium)

  • 'Stadsgardeville I', BOB361 Architectes, Brussels (Belgium)

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2016

  • 'MAD Power' , De Warande , Turnhout , (Belgium)

  • 'Stadtriënnale - Label it' , Modemuseum , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Veiling der dingen' , Onbetaalbaar - C-Mine , Genk , (Belgium)

  • 'Finissage' , Rod Barton - Take over , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'The history, the horse and the land. (solo exhibition)' , Cultuurzomer Tongeren , Tongeren , (Belgium)

  • 'Concienza Fest' , Marina Kazakova , Geer (Liége) , (Belgium)

  • 'Presentation' , Jacqmotte , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Jardin Maritime 01' , JM , Molenbeek , (Belgium)

  • 'A collaboration with Strelli' (solo exhibition) , Strelli-homme , Antwerp , (Belgium)

  • 'Summer Bar & Young Designers Shops' , // , Asbeek , (Belgium)

  • 'Night Still', //, Brussels, (Belgium)

2015

  • 'Before the foodfight' , Gertie Clark - Chocoladefabriek , Nerem, Tongeren , (Belgium)

  • 'The weight of equilibrium (solo exhibition)' , Cultuurzomer Tongeren , Nerem, Tongeren , (Belgium)

  • 'Das in Istanbul' , Het LABO , Istanbul , (Turkey)

  • 'Branding (solo exhibition)' , Arteventuno - CCHA , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Actueel Kunstenfestival' , Kunstnetwerk Haspengouw , Kuttekoven , (Belgium)

  • 'Interview' , Bertels.A , Tongeren , (Belgium)

  • 'Collaboration with Strelli' , Strelli-homme , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'D.ART' , Artenova , Mechelen , (Belgium)

  • 'RSS#8' , Renold , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Lievelingen lonken niet' , Kunstenaarzoektruimte , Sint-Truiden , (Belgium)

  • 'Carte de visite' , Cultuurdienst Brussel , Brussels , (Belgium)

2014

  • 'Biodiversiteit' , _ , Nieuwenhoven , (Belgium)

  • 'The Clever Kids Are Coming (solo exhibition)' , VOKA , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'curiosiTIES' , Modemuseum Hasselt (het LABO) , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Collages' , The Corner Gallery , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Copyright is a myth' , Iforwilliams , Bree , (Belgium)

  • 'AMOK' , AMOK , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Carte de visite' , Cultuurdienst Brussel , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Update#1' , Wiebengahal , Maastricht , (The Netherlands)

  • 'The Collection. A Summer Group Exhibition.' , Eastmen Gallery , Hasselt , (Belgium)

2013

  • 'Project Parc Maritime' , JES-Brussel , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Sousvoir' , Art route , Hoegaarden , (Belgium)

  • 'SQUASHER (solo exhibition)' , KABINET CIAP , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'a tribute to Wout Vercammen' , Arteventuno , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'First we take The Hague, then we take Berlin.' , z33 , The Hague , (The Netherlands)

  • 'DADA Belgium' , WOW , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Diaphanous Structures (solo exhibition)' , Arteventuno , Borgloon , (Belgium)

  • 'Art Attack' , Arteventuno & Anouck Vilain , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Upcycling Festival' , Creazi , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Young Masters' , Glazenhuis , Lommel , (Belgium)

2012

  • 'The sketchbook project' , Brooklyn Art Library , Touring through USA , (Canada and Great Britain)

  • 'Bookers' , Kulturama , Leuven , (Belgium)

  • 'Re: Converse #3' , Casino Beringen , Beringen , (Belgium)

  • 'Leaving For a Living' , Art & Advice , Hasselt-Stevoort , (Belgium)

  • 'Bienvenue' , MAD-Faculty , Waterschei , (Belgium)

  • 'You and me - in between' , Piazza del Arte , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'BoomTown' , Gentse Feesten , Ghent , (Belgium)

  • 'Toutestfini' , Group expo , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'No Movement' , De Muze/Arteventuno , Heusden-Zolder , (Belgium)

  • 'Perpendicular' , Philips site, VONK , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Copyright is a myth - 2012' , IForWilliams , Bree , (Belgium)

2011

  • 'Bagaar' , Secondroom , Ghent , (Belgium)

  • 'Matchbox' , De bark , Heusden-Zolder , (Belgium)

  • 'Matchbox' , CIAP , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Alternate Current' , Gelatinefabriek , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Feeling so brave. You can't be stopped when you're young (solo exhibition)' , Grizzzly gallery , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'Toekomstcongres' , Provinciale hogeschool Limburg , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Zebra-crossing' , Pianofabriek , Brussels , (Belgium)

  • 'In out in out' , Home Jonas Vanbuel , Brussels , (Belgium)

2010

  • 'Copyright is a myth - 2010' , IForWilliams , Bree , (Belgium)

  • 'Centre Of Mass' , Lokaal 01 , Antwerp , (Belgium)

  • 'Wunderkammer' , MDA (Media & Design academy) C-mine , Genk , (Belgium)

  • 'PIHNDY' , CIAP , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'XXI-into Dada' , Arteventuno , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • 'Lineart Gent' , DS Contemporary Art , Heusden-Zolder , (Belgium)

2009

  • 'Bachelor expo' , Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg , Hasselt , (Belgium)

2007

  • 'Habitat: A Cocky Roar Show' , Kunstencentrum Belgie , Hasselt , (Belgium)

  • '50/25' , Cypres Gallery , Leuven , (Belgium)

  • 'Ruimte te gebruiken' , Z33 , Hasselt , (Belgium)

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