26 july 2024, Flor Linckens
The metaphorical garden of Caroline Coolen and Luis Xertu
Until 26 August, NL=US Art Gallery in Rotterdam is presenting a duo exhibition featuring the works of Caroline Coolen and Luis Xertu. The exhibition 'At the Fringe: Gardening the Beauty of the Unwanted' centers around a metaphorical garden, a diverse ecosystem symbolising our society. In the lush garden created by Caroline Coolen and Luis Xertu, there is space for everyone, regardless of their economic status, gender, race, sexuality, mental health or educational background.
In a politically right-leaning climate, these artists value diversity and stand against hatred and the fear of the unknown. For a diverse garden is a lively, creative and resilient one. Through this symbolic space, the artists compel us to rethink norms—and whether they are as self-evident as they seem.
Luis Xertu demonstrates that a painting does not have to be a static object. In his large-scale paintings, the artist uses real plants that change colour over time. This partially organic work thus gains a dynamic aspect, and the transformation can sometimes take years to complete. Over time, you can literally see the leaves change from green to gold. Universal themes such as transience and the passage of time become an important part of the painting, forming a parallel with our own finite existence. Xertu actively seeks the beauty in this transformation. Aging is not only reflected in his choice of materials but also in the people he portrays. In his work, Xertu combines acrylic paint with flowers and leaves, carefully glued onto the canvas. The nearly black backgrounds create a lack of depth and the suggestion of infinity, in which the characters seem to sink slowly. Xertu’s dreamy and decorative depictions show people in a relaxed posture, almost still. Because the characters are often naked, they seem to merge with nature. Xertu’s most recent paintings are inspired by photography collections from the 1920s-1960s: images of homosexual men who secretly spent time together when their love and sexuality was deemed ‘illegal.’ These works highlight the contrast between a sense of community and loneliness, reflecting Xertu’s personal struggle with his own sexuality.
Xertu was born in Mexico in 1985 but he has lived in the Netherlands for twenty years now. He obtained his degree at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and his work has been shown at the Dutch Pavilion during the Venice Biennale and at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. In 2019, he was nominated for the Royal Award for Modern Painting, winning the audience award.
Coolen was born in Belgium in 1975 and studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Her work has been exhibited at the Middelheim Museum, Princessehof Ceramics Museum and ARTZUID.
