Four years ago, the Antwerp-based painter accidently discovered a technique that would make his work and career blossom. “Adding resin to my works made them very glossy and, hence, tactile. It transforms the multiple layers and colours and adds an entirely new dimension,” he tells me at the opening of his new show Counterchange in Antwerp’s Kusseneers Gallery.

That first thing that strikes you about Annerel’s works is indeed their unexpected gloss, which is complimented by rich colours and bold, constructivist patterns. They exude sumptuous sophistication despite seeming quite simple. Take a closer look, and you find that this isn’t your average two-dimensional canvas.

Annerel work is in multiple layers, turned into a whole due to the resin. They beg to be viewed from different angles; new aspects are revealed, luring you deeper into each painting and into the wonder of their creation.

Annerel’s technique is exceptional. “I get my inspiration from advertisements in magazines, pieces of fabric, even very trivial things like the typical pattern of the bag that most people carry their laundry to the launderette in,” he explains. “I extract a piece, take it out of its original context and create a collage. By adding several layers of paint, paper or plastic on top, I not only expand its original form but also its colours, creating an illusion of fact and fiction.” Finally, he’s applies the resin to all of the layers. The resin is what is responsible for a contrast that adds both gloss and an almost tangible depth to the pieces. These two characteristics together make the artist’s work very distinguishable.

“If you stare at something like a detail in a photograph long enough, it detaches itself from its original meaning and gains a whole new one,” Annerel continues. This play on reality is also one of the key features in his work. The mundane titbits that influenced him are not only immortalised but are transformed into an experience reminiscent of a fading memory.

Annerel’s works are like mysteries waiting to be unravelled, but at the same time, any true meaning seems to stay beyond our grasp. The result is an enchanting web of multiple associations. Their titles, however, may help guide you in the right direction.

The title Counterchange refers to a weaving technique that inspired Annerel to create works that incorporate similar patterns. He transforms a figurative element into an abstract masterpiece with a dash of trompe l’oeil.

Counterchange
Kusseneers Gallery
De Burburestraat 11
Antwerp
www.kusseneers.com

Also in Antwerp galleries this month

A bout de Souffle - Ilse D’Hollander

Geukens & De Vil

In 1997, this talented young painter from Ghent committed suicide. A bout de Souffle offers a selection of her final works, which radiate tranquillity and grace. Titled after the famous Godard film, the pieces are characterised by subtle, almost dancing, lines and overlapping colours. D’Hollander seems to channel her tormented thoughts, as well as the joy of painting, into these powerful pieces.

www.geukensdevil.come

De Zomer – Nicolas Verhulst

Galerie Van De Weghe

Paintings of luscious landscapes and the essence of nature play the title roles in this almost soothing exhibition with Impressionistic tendencies. The Flemish artist created this collection on location in Ardooie (West Flanders), Oyé (France) and Slawnikovice (Poland) last year. Verhulst goes back to nature, back to basics, even when bringing one of art’s oldest and most beloved themes into the 21st century. In an age where anything goes, the Flemish artist bravely proves that the ever-changing glory of nature is something to be cherished forever.

www.galerievandeweghe.be