Wouter van de Koot paints enigmatic scenario’s in which historical and mythological characters mingle with elements from his everyday life. He evokes a tragicomic world, strewn with human figures, seemingly submerged in some sort of ritual act. Their actions may seem mundane at times, but clearly contain a dark an mysterious side, like echoes of the subconscious.
In contrast with this dark side, the work is made in brightly coloured layers of transparent oils, inks or watercolour. His imagery alternates between a clear graphic approach and the expressive in which the spontaneous gesture and quiet precision hold a delicate balance between control and letting go. As in a collage, the motives tumble upon each other, eclectic and baroque.
Van de Koot feels at home in the underbelly of dark humour and mystery, and leads us to the vulnerable body and games of power and trust. He invites us to find beauty in the grotesque and comfort in the ephemeral.