16 july 2024, Yves Joris
The fragile harmony of unreadable words
Sometimes, holidays can disrupt your plans. A full inbox tempts me with invitations for summer exhibitions. As they say, choosing is losing, so I decide that the next few weekends will not have 24, but 36 hours to immerse myself in the new exhibitions. We start close to home. After showing the playful work of Polly Pollet, Art Gallery De Wael 15 has made a very different choice with the fragile porcelain of Martine Thoelen and the exhibition Leaves, Fire & Porcelain.
Martine Thoelen is a Belgian artist who currently lives and works in Switzerland and Japan. She is known for her profound and delicate paintings, video art and ceramics. Her art reflects her inner world, characterised by a duality of strength and sensitivity. This balance allows her to create pieces infused with deep emotional and philosophical layers. For the exhibition, Rik Rosseels chose ceramics. "A choice I hadn't made before," he says. He weighs his words carefully and is as enthusiastic as always. Yet, I feel he walks more cautiously through his gallery during his explanation, as if instinctively aware of the fragility of the materials surrounding him.
Leaves, Fire & Porcelain perfectly embodies Thoelen's artistic vision. The title evokes a series of powerful images that explore vulnerability and strength, transience and durability. ‘Leaves’ symbolise the fragile, transient beauty of nature, while 'fire', which can be both destructive and creative, serves as a catalyst for transformation and 'porcelain' represents durability and finesse, the result of a creative process that is both subtle and intense.
Martine Thoelen, No leaves to blow, 2024, Art Gallery De Wael 15
Delicate harmony between nature and craftsmanship
In Thoelen's work, as mentioned above, leaves symbolise the delicate and transient beauty of nature. In her recent work, she uses tea leaves to add a green tint to her creations. Leaves and sheets are both plurals originating from the word ‘leaf’, only the plural form determines whether the word refers to nature or literature. Thoelen's works are often sheets, torn letters, moments frozen in porcelain time.
Fire plays a crucial role in the transformation of clay into porcelain. It is both destructive and creative, an element that transforms clay into a hard and durable material. In her artwork, fire symbolises symbol transformation and renewal. The firing process, in which clay is exposed to intense heat, is a metaphor for the challenges and trials that lead to growth and renewal. Thoelen shows how destructive forces can contribute to the creation of something new and beautiful.
Porcelain, the end product of this creative process, represents durability and finesse. The hard, shiny surface contrasts sharply with the organic forms of the leaves, but it is precisely in this contrast that the deeper beauty lies. The artist manages to bring these elements together in a visual symphony. Her work shows the duality of fragility and strength, with porcelain representing the durable and immutable nature of art, while the leaves recall frozen moments.
Martine Thoelen, My beautiful Japan in a world of one color II, 2024, Art Gallery De Wael 15
Transformation as a constant
A striking aspect of Thoelen's work is her ability to breathe life into these seemingly lifeless materials. Her porcelain objects seem to breathe and pulse with an inner life force. The details of finishing and precision with which she works reveal her deep understanding and respect for the material. It is precisely this dedication to her craft that enables her to create such evocative and lively pieces.
Wie naar haar werk kijkt beseft dat transformatie een constante vormt in haar werk. Door bladen en vuur vertelt ze porseleinen verhalen van verandering, groei en wedergeboorte. Thoelens kunst nodigt uit tot contemplatie, en het is in deze stille momenten van reflectie dat de ware kracht van haar werk tot uiting komt.
Those who see her work realise that transformation is a constant. Through leaves and fire, she tells porcelain stories of change, growth and rebirth. Thoelen's art invites contemplation and it is in these quiet moments of reflection that the true power of her work emerges. In the context of our current world in which the relationship between man and nature is often under pressure, Thoelen's work offers a valuable reminder of the beauty and necessity of harmony. Her work is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also carries a deep message of respect and wonder for the natural world. It encourages us to rediscover and appreciate the connection with nature and to recognise how art can contribute to this renewed appreciation.
Looking beyond the surface
With the exhibition Leaves, Fire & Porcelain, Martine Thoelen challenges the viewer to look beyond the surface, to explore the depth and complexity of the themes and to find beauty in the subtle details of nature and the creative process. With this exhibition, the artist has created a moment that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant, leaving a lasting impression on all those who have the opportunity to experience her work. Her work is an ode to the symbiosis between natural beauty and human creativity and offers deep reflection on the power and fragility of both nature and the creative process.
Martine Thoelen, Leaves, Fire and porcelain, 2023, Art Gallery De Wael 15
