The sculptural sacrality of Kristel Van Ballaer
With her new exhibition Genius Loci, Kristel Van Ballaer takes not only the beauty but also the spirit of the 'Silent Kempen' to Art Gallery De Wael 15. The exhibition, a delicate interplay between craft and digital creativity, presents works that are rooted in the immediate (Kempen) environment of the artist. Kristel transforms everyday landscapes into utopian vistas, exploring the boundaries between reality and imagination. From hand-sized works of art to monumental sculptures that dominate the gallery, the works on display embody the spirit of the place in a unique and intense way.
Kristel, inspired by the serenity and beauty of her surroundings, invites the visitor on a contemplative journey. In a sublime choreography of emptiness, rhythm and structures, the exhibited works awaken the senses and touch the core of the organic. Art here becomes an adventure with nature, an encounter between the earthly and the transcendent.
An absolute eye-catcher of the exhibition is Portal, an imposing architectural creation that invites the visitor to a symbolic passage to another world. This monumental form, created from a land art collage, embraces our human scale and simultaneously creates a sign in space, an invitation and a path to a special destination.
In the footsteps of Ellsworth Kelly
In this hard edge approach by Kristel, we find the hand of Ellsworth Kelly, one of the pioneers of abstract art. This style is characterized by sharply defined colors and a strict design language, which contribute to the pursuit of formal perfection. It results in a timeless and unapproachable aesthetic quality that radiates peace and balance. Kristel's creations go much further than simply capturing the beauty of nature and architecture; they conduct a thoughtful dialogue with art history.
Landscape painter with a camera
The collages at the exhibition require a lot of attention. Craving time and proximity to investigate where the image ends and the human-artistic intervention begins. With surgical precision, the artist removes almost minuscule image strips from the original work in order to demarcate not only the outer but also the inner boundaries of the image. As a contemporary landscape painter, she emphasizes the poetry of her environment through subtle markings and viewing windows, which reflect geometric shapes and spatial demarcations.
Stillness and introspection
Her artworks, created from a process of editing, sanding, sawing and digital research, transcend the minimalist abstract and create a sensory tension through the use of material. After all, Van Ballaer not only emphasizes the visual aspects of her environment, but also the sensory experience thereof. The use of tactile materials such as wood and aluminum adds a physical aspect to this artistic expression. Her artworks are imbued with a sacred dimension, where nature is not just a subject, but a living entity that speaks to the soul of the viewer.
In a world where technology often has the upper hand, Genius Loci invites a moment of tranquility and introspection. The works of art function as poetic windows to another world, where sacred and spiritual elements are captured on a support surface and in form. Kristel's creations are more than aesthetic expressions; they are an invitation to explore the deeper layers of our relationship with the world around us. During this artistic journey, Kristel not only transcends the boundaries of the known landscape, but opens gates to a utopian horizon, where art becomes myth and the soul of nature is captured in material and form.
Go through the gate and enter Genius Loci. Immerse yourself in a world imbued with beauty, spirituality and the deep connection with the spirit of the place.
Yves Joris February 2024