Primordial

Figurative art; magical realism; poetic naivety; hidden drama

The Essence of Beginnings: An overview of this series of pieces created between 1991 and 2016.

The ‘Primordial’ series by Joseph Delmeire is a visceral return to the genesis of perception. Each piece, a celebration of figurative art, is imbued with magical realism and the kind of poetic naivety that harks back to Delmeire’s early years. The hidden drama within each painting echoes the layered complexity of his life, from the youthful days spent amidst the multicultural tapestry of miners to the soulful solitude he experienced as an outsider. Here, the simplicity of form belies a profound narrative, each figure is a character in Delmeire’s ongoing story, their silent contours speaking volumes about the trials and triumphs that have shaped him.

The ‘Primordial’ canvases hold within them a blend of reality and fantasy, much like the life Delmeire has led. From the tangible wood grains he once carved to the ethereal visions he now manifests, this series stands as a testament to his journey from carpentry to canvas. The innocence of these works belies the artist’s deep introspection, inviting viewers to delve into a world where the lines between the seen and the unseen are as delicately drawn as the figures in Delmeire’s compositions.

Within these works, Delmeire invites onlookers to witness the drama of existence, the unseen forces that drive our destinies, just as unseen forces have driven his own. From the vibrancy of a street vendor’s life to the stark silence of a prison cell, the ‘Primordial’ series is not just a collection of images but a narrative of human experience, a dialogue between Delmeire’s past and present, rendered in the timeless language of art.