Hendrik Van Kelst

Hendrik Van Kelst
An artistic journey of (dis)harmony

Hendrik Van Kelst (29.10.1946) grew up in a farmer’s family in the municipality of Bonheiden, Belgium; a quiet and rural place in the shadow of the city of Mechelen. Together with his father and his brother, he worked on the field. “Art”, he says, “was not part of the family’s life. No one in the family had anything to do with art. We had no pictures on the walls. Instead, it was important to work and to learn a trade.” In 1960, at the age of 14, Van Kelst made a drawing of a girl. It was a spontaneous act to which he didn't give much attention. But, sometime later, he met the girl he had sketched. She was someone from school; not a friend, he didn't know her name, she was beautiful. 64 years later, in 2024, the artist re-created the drawing based on his memory of the original drawing and of the girl.

The Belgian artist Hendrik Van Kelst creates abstract works of art from a free spirit and with a desire for aesthetics. He bases himself on a unique artistic vision that results in paintings that explore the boundaries of balance. Van Kelst approaches his work from a rational point of view, but he also allows impulses and interaction during the creative process. He challenges interaction with the visual tension of his images. Hendrik Van Kelst's oeuvre is a fascinating artistic journey inspired by (dis)harmony.

Introduction by curator Jan Van Woensel