SOON YOU’LL BE EATEN

Willem Boel

We proudly present the first solo gallery show by the Belgian artist Willem Boel (BE, 1983). He will present new works that cover his entire oeuvre.

28/10 - 26/11/2023

Exhibition text by Michael Krajewski, curator Krefelder Kunstmuseen (DE):

At first glance, Willem Boel’s sculptures, wall objects, and paintings may appear eccentric,characterized by machine-like constructions and expansive installations that make a strong impact. This impact is primarily rooted in their immediate visual presence and the decipherable craftsmanship.

We first notice the size, materiality, surfaces, aging, or the treatment of used objects. This alone, as in some works of Arte Povera, exudes a seductive charm; boldly, he constructs monumental installations like ‘Sancho Don’t Care #05’ overwhelming the viewer. The laborious and elaborate creative process that takes place in the studio remains mostly hidden, leaving us only to speculate. However, what connects these occasionally raw-looking artworks to the enigmatic and poetic title of his solo exhibition presents itself as a kind of cryptic message – either as solemn as a profound admonition or as existential wisdom, or casually like the flashy title of a B-movie.

In fact, the sculptor has chosen a film quote that can inspire the viewer to reflect or smile. He was inspired by a scene from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy in which Frodo and his companion Gollum are lured into a spider’;s cave. In this scene, Gollum sings a song with the refrain ‘Naughty little fly! Why does it cry? / Caught in a web! Soon you’ll be ...’ which ends not with the expected rhyme ‘dead’ but with ‘eaten’ – a subtle surprise. This established poetic device, used to create an unexpected turn or irony in classical poetry, now becomes a source for Boel to reflect on the nature of artistic production through a pop culture reference.

In conversation with Willem Boel, it becomes clear how fruitful the exploration of production aesthetics is, rather than focusing solely on the sometimes magical results. His works are more than an invitation to contemplative observation. Boel dedicates himself daily and sometimes over the course of years to the creation, alteration, and revision of his artworks. He describes this process as a race against time, where he experiences deliberate stretching and acceleration as creative elements. Some of his works, which he continuously coats with new layers of paint, manage to surprise him almost daily despite minimal changes.

The studio’s working method can be somewhat compared to musical exercises, where mental meditation and craftsmanship are in tension with each other. For Boel, it’s not the perfection of the final product that matters, but rather the intermediate state as the desired goal. Like in daily musical exercises that are practiced and repeated constantly, the progress achieved is not visible at every moment, neither for the artist himself nor the viewer. Nevertheless, this highly personal and intimate process forms the foundation and method of artistic creation. ‘Soon, you’ll be eaten’ can serve as a metaphor for actively controlling the process as well as being passively absorbed. Boel’s art is direct, purposeful, engaged, and vibrant, while simultaneously offering an unconventional path to experience the mystery of the relationship between the artist and the artwork on a deeper level.

Contact us for more information or a catalog of works

+32 9 391 39 13 | desk@barbegallery.com