31 may 2024, Yves Joris
Ultramarine and the beat of the sea, a Burroughs-inspired exploration
In the dual exhibition Ultra Tale of Marin with work by Fleur De Roeck and Anouk Van Offenwert at Ponti in Antwerp, art and philosophy converge in an exploration of the maritime world and versatility of the colour ultramarine blue. The exhibition invites visitors to not only look at art but also make a deeper connection with the elements and colours presented.
Why do I immediately think of the American cult author William S. Burroughs when reading the title of this exhibition? One reason is undoubtedly the fact that this beat writer forms part of the bedrock of the cut-up technique, by which texts are cut up and reassembled in new combinations. Perhaps the title of this exhibition was created in a similar way and the story of ultramarine was deliberately shifted to an ultra-tale of the marine.
The choice of ultramarine blue in an exhibition is not purely aesthetic; it is a colour historically and culturally laden with significance. Ultramarine, a pigment originally derived from lapis lazuli, was once valued more highly than gold and symbolised the divine and sublime. In Ultra Tale of Marine, De Roeck and Van Offenwert use this colour to create an underwater world that visitors can enter.
Anouk Van Offenwert, Untitled (Mexico series), 2023, PONTI
A maritime-mystical duo
For the exhibition, Fleur De Roeck (born in 1985) and Anouk Van Offenwert (born in 1992) form an artistic duo that brings a profound exploration of nature, with a special focus on the maritime world and the (above-mentioned) colour ultramarine blue. Fleur De Roeck's work is characterised by her use of traditional painting techniques combined with modern influences, resulting in large-scale installations that reflect the dynamics and movement of the sea and water. Her art invites the viewer to enter into an underwater world full of vibrant colours and fluid shapes that evoke a sense of liquidity and spontaneity. Anouk Van Offenwert adds her own unique style to this, using vibrant colours and a watercolour-like technique to create intriguing visual experiences. Her work explores the interaction between colour and material, resulting in compositions that are both playful and dreamy. Her paintings and drawings are designed to engage the viewer in a deeper visual and emotional experience.
De Roeck and Van Offenwert have combined their talents and visions to create an exhibition that is not only aesthetically appealing, but also provokes philosophical reflection on the human relationship with nature and the elements. Their collaborative work offers a rich and complex experience that goes beyond visual aesthetics and invites viewers to think about how we relate to the world around us.
Fleur De Roeck, Bubble gum escape, 2024, PONTI
The exhibition can be seen as a reflection on the human relationship with nature, particularly with the ocean. The works transform the gallery into a space that – for those who descend the stairs to the basement – feels like an underwater cave, a place of both isolation and discovery. The way in which De Roeck and Van Offenwert blend their materials – oil on canvas and watercolour-like drawings – emphasises the fluidity of shapes and interaction between matter and meaning. This artistic approach can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition: always in motion, always interacting with the world around us. It reminds us that our perceptions are not static, but constantly changing and evolving, just as water adapts to the shape of the container holding it.
Ultra Tale of Marine, PONTI
Anouk Van Offenwert, Mirage, 2024, PONTI
Through the combination of the physical space of the gallery, choice of materials and philosophical themes addressed, this exhibition offers a rich and complex experience that goes beyond visual aesthetics. It is an invitation to ponder how we relate to nature, to colour and shape, and ultimately to ourselves. In this profound exploration of the maritime world and ultramarine blue, we find not only beauty, but also a source of philosophical and existential reflection. And is that feeling of the unknown and the unconscious, which at times brushes against the surreal and mysterious, not something we also find in Burroughs' work? The summer holiday is coming up, so perhaps now is a good time to dive back into the often-maligned oeuvre of this cult author.
Fleur De Roeck, Bubble gum escape, 2024, PONTI
