Joris Van De Moortel - FRAGMENTEN, DOORGANGEN, AFDALING EN TERUGKEER - Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout, Belgium

Cultuurhuis de Warande, Warandestraat - 42 2300 Turnhout 4 February - 28 April 2024 
Cultuurhuis de Warande, Warandestraat - 42 2300 Turnhout https://www.warande.be/
Galerie Nathalie Obadia is pleased to present FRAGMENTEN, DOORGANGEN, AFDALING EN TERUGKEER (Fragments, passages, descent and return) a solo exhibition by Joris Van de Moortel, opens at de Warande on February 3, 2024 and will run until April 28, 2024.  

For more than 15 years, Van de Moortel has been building a diverse, multidisciplinary oeuvre. He creates music, paintings, drawings, sculptures and maquettes that may subsequently be solidified into large-scale installations, illuminated by his characteristic signature neon. Together with others, Van de Moortel will then bring these installations to life in musical performances, while he chooses the medium of video and stop-motion films to mix these various components into a new form. His oeuvre, clearly marked by a horror vacui and full of (art)historical references, word games and puns, serves as a critical discourse to question current relationships between nature, culture, art, religion and society. Joris Van de Moortel can be compared to the figure of the alchemist. In his practice, the artist adopts an inquisitive attitude similar to that of the extinct figure from secular mythology. Rather than seeking eternal life and wealth, Van de Moortel is looking for a path out of the chaos of the world that we ourselves created.

The exhibition at de Warande shows Van de Moortel's oeuvre in its surprising multiplicity: apocalyptic paintings in oil on canvas, a series of watercolours depicting a pilgrimage, a wall papered with prints of woodcuts, a 300-minute performance and paintings made live during that performance, two film screenings, a neon installation with a glass chandelier, neon guitars and wax hats based on the musician’s faces. Fragmenten, Doorgangen, Afdaling en Terugkeer promises to offer an exceptional insight into the kitchen of Joris Van de Moortel.
 
At the opening, the Ur Gerausch Kammer Ensemble performs ‘Le Toille’ and ‘Le Trou du Fou’ in an Urganic supper with a duration of 300 min, led by the chef of the ‘Alghe•Mistische Oerganisch Geruis Fornuis’ Juris Van d’Moertel. Featuring Mauro Pawloerwski, Thomas D'Ur Prins, Clara L. Oerssens, Niels LA Oer, Krist T. Oer, Tom B. Oer, Marlon L. Oer, Yasmin Van d'ur Rauweloert, Jan Van den B. Oer, Kris Delacoer, Carlo'er Anduriani ... and guests.
 
On the occasion of the exhibition and 15 years of performing, Joris Van de Moortel is releasing a double 12'' vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with 16-page full-colour booklet.

FRAGMENTEN, DOORGANGEN, AFDALING EN TERUGKEER is the first part of an exhibition cycle that will have a second part in October 2024 at the S.M.A.K. in Ghent under the title PUR, NUR & FUR. A second episode of the graphic novel will then be presented.