The unexpected allure of fish in Van Hillik’s art
In his striking murals, Veks Van Hillik reinvents the classic motifs of Dutch Golden Age still-life paintings. He embraces their vivid depictions of flora and fauna while threading in contemporary reflections on nature. You’ll find familiar elements such as food and flowers meticulously painted.
Exploring anthropomorphism and hidden meanings
Van Hillik draws inspiration from traditional art forms, embedding hidden meanings in his work. His murals play with the way we personify animals through stories. “I enjoy playing with these unspoken codes,” he says, infusing his art with ecological themes and stories inspired by fables and folklore.
For more thought-provoking ecological themes in art, check out 10 striking eco-friendly designs that will inspire you to embrace sustainability.
Fish figure prominently in his art, due to their aesthetic diversity and personal significance. They were the very first things he learned to draw. Van Hillik finds them to be “sometimes graceful, sometimes monstrous,” and always striking in their surreal beauty.
Architecture meets the aquatic
His murals incorporate structural elements reminiscent of historical still-lifes: dark backgrounds and architectural niches. Yet within these settings, he challenges perceptions—a butterfly without a body, or a heron with a beak that morphs into a key. It’s a playful deception, where reality blurs with imagination.
Delve into the captivating world of surreal art further by exploring Francesco Lo Castro’s abstract works, where painting transforms into architectural marvels.
Fish, being creatures we regularly consume, live in mysterious worlds we seldom venture into. He echoes this mystery in his work, capturing their peculiar “sense of levitation.” The world’s oceans, after all, remain largely uncharted, with only a little over a quarter of the sea floor mapped.
Creatures that defy expectations
Within his surreal universe, Van Hillik creates hybrid creatures like a hare with a tortoise shell and oversized goldfish with limbs. These creations challenge our expectations of weight and form, suspending elements like plant stems and droplets in mid-air. Each piece holds a sense of both familiarity and mystery.
His recent exhibitions, including at Arch Enemy Arts, have captivated audiences, with a solo show coming soon. Keep up with his projects by following him on Instagram.
Source: thisiscolossal.com
Frequently asked questions
What themes does Veks Van Hillik use in his art?
Veks Van Hillik’s art blends the classic motifs of Dutch still-life paintings with modern ecological themes, incorporating elements of flora and fauna along with contemporary reflections on nature.
Why are fish significant in Van Hillik’s murals?
Fish hold aesthetic diversity and personal significance for Van Hillik as they were the first things he learned to draw. He finds them graceful yet monstrous, integrating them into his murals for their surreal beauty.
How does Van Hillik incorporate architecture into his art?
Van Hillik’s murals include structural elements reminiscent of historical still-lifes, such as dark backgrounds and architectural niches, while introducing playful deceptions that blur reality and imagination.