JESSE WILLEMS

Jesse Willems is a Belgian contemporary artist. He uses his street photography as a base for complex collages, often provoking contemplation and silence. By wrapping photographic prints in the most wonderful paper (often scored from forgotten archives and old stationery shops), he draws our attention to what is often overlooked and shows us that beauty can be hidden in any corner at any moment, but can only be enjoyed if one takes the time to observe carefully. By eliminating any superfluous elements, and consciously leaving out all too recognizable items such as letters and symbols, Jesse frees the composition from a limited reading. Willems aims to control his compositions, however always leaving room to consciously and simultaneously explore the intersection between reason and coincidence. In recent years, he has evolved towards a restrained style which incorporates softer colors, deriving abstraction from reality.