Kevin Van Aelst

I discovered the work of Kevin Van Aelst while procrastinating one day at my old job. I can’t quite remember how I stumbled upon his online gallery, but I was glad I did that day. I remember my co-worker and I then spent the rest of the day viewing his entire online portfolio, pulling each other over every now and then to say things like “oh look at this one!” or “hehe isn’t this one clever!”

There is something irresistible about Van Aelst’s art. I think it is its lack of pretention, and its simplicity. I like artists that use simple visuals and forms to convey powerful messages. In his case, there is also a playful quality, and an enchantment with the ordinary and everyday. I suppose what that means is that his art is both accessible and also fun. It makes us look at the familiar in new ways. Using the most unexpected and often banal materials, Van Aelst is able to bring to life the moon, the ocean, the pulse of a human heart. Isn’t there something wonderful about that? 

Come and enjoy his gallery here.

a word or two about contemporary art

(or things I have learnt from working in a contemporary art museum)

• people are still very sceptical of contemporary art (“but is it art?”)
• people still value talent and skill above ego and personality
• sometimes simple is most beautiful (such as this)
• perhaps children are the best judge of art, because they don’t follow names and fads blindly but instead follow what they like visually (and playfully)
• sometimes gender and race matter, sometimes they don’t. 
• sometimes you need to give contemporary art time, to filter out the bad things.
• there are always going to be too many names to remember. savour the fact that you will always be learning new things everyday. new ideas, new names. it gets boring once you have nothing new to learn. 
• understanding contemporary art isn’t hard, and it shouldn’t be hard. if you’re struggling, it’s probably the artist’s fault. after all, contemporary art is about contemporary themes, issues, desires, thoughts and events. it should speak to us more immediately than a Renaissance painting (although it may obscure its message)