Zachte Drempel

“The paintings, with their soft transitional moments, seem to mirror the shifts in my own life – becoming vibrant layers of colour, interwoven with layers of longing, fantasy and a deeper memory of loss.”

Zachte Drempel is the first solo exhibition by The Hague based artist Catelijne Boele. After receiving the Stroom Pro Invest grant, Boele deepened her practice by focusing on a new series of large-scale oil paintings, which have continued to evolve into sculptural elements. These works are a reflection of a dream world, inspired by her recent bird-watching experiences.

Catelijne Boele’s artistry is driven by her deep connection to the natural landscape and a mind that is prone to wander into imaginative narratives. She brings these elements together in soft, dreamlike colour palettes, where the bodies of the majestic birds seem to dissolve into their surroundings. These figures are not distinct forms, but elusive apparitions that gradually fade into the landscape or cautiously emerge from an interplay between warm and cool hues. Her process results in a sensitive balancing act. A constant fluctuation between appearance and disappearance - such as the body of the birdwatcher dissolving into the endless hues of the field, or the invisible bird whose song you hear but cannot see.