Jesse

Willems

Jesse Willems transcends the boundaries of constructivism, crafting collages that encapsulate the essence of our postmodern time. Utilizing found materials, Willems infuses his creations with the enchanting allure of imperfection, weaving together an intricate tapestry of magazine fragments. As an observer of life's often overlooked details, Willems compels his audience to confront the limitations of control and immerse themselves in contemplative introspection.

My first collages truly meant a world opening up. I had been working as a photographer for many years when my great grandfather died and left me an enormous collection of National Geographic magazines. As my photography had been becoming more and more abstract, cutting apart old kodachrome magazines and putting them back together felt like a leap into a new direction. Since then my style has become more minimalistic, embracing the silence I seek amidst everyday life. I try to leave some traces in my work of the ‘earlier life’ of the paper, but push them back, to allow for silence. I always compare looking at my work with wearing earplugs. You can still hear something being said, but it has been silenced to a more civil level.

Jesse Willems

Jesse Willems explores, photographs, draws, collects, and analyzes small fragments of everyday life. Using paper dating back several decades, dried flowers picked at the side of a busy road, a sunbeam falling on his bed every day, Willems draws the attention towards what is often overlooked. He shows that beauty can be hidden in any corner at any moment but can only be enjoyed if one takes the time to observe carefully. While his early collages and photographs can still be described as quite crowded, Willems' work evolved towards a more abstract style, recognized by soft colours, purity, silence, and calm. By eliminating all clutter, all that remains is the few fragments worth remembering.

Courtesy of Jesse Willems

Jesse Willems is currently based in Antwerp, Belgium.

‍