walter dermul

walter dermul (°1953) lives and works in Rijmenam. After a career in a completely different world, walter dermul has been painting on a daily basis for more than ten years. He has had no professional art training - it is the passion that drives him. His work is always figurative. He paints exclusively with oil paint - a living and malleable material.

From twists and turns in his own life, he examines the intersections where life takes shape. Often unconsciously and unintentionally, small or big moments have an indelible impact on the further course of life.

He usually talks about people and their emotions - or the lack of emotions. About how people communicate with each other - or struggle with the inability to communicate - in their relationship with those around them, with their partner, with their children. Or about growing children: how they seek the light or just turn away from it. Their uncertainty about the future is often symbolised by an undefined cube: a black box, or Pandora's box in which everything is still hidden.

The images, often with an autobiographical touch, are usually inspired by photographs he took himself or found in news media, websites and old family archives.

Additional readings

Correspondence between walter dermul and Kathleen Ramboer (Dutch)

Everything that happens | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

Happy | 60 x 57 cm | oil on canvas | 2021

Standing Tall | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

Une piscine peut en cacher une autre | 80 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2021

Me Tarzan | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

Look up now | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

Making Waves | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

The other side of the horizon | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

Lay Me Down In Tall Grass | 120 x 90 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

My freedom means too much for me to give up now | 80 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2021

Life is made of patterns | 150 x 90 cm | oil on canvas | 2021

Weekenders on our own | 150 x 90 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

Joy | 90 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

The pitfall | 80 x 60 cm | oil on canvas | 2022

RendezVous

I have seen her on the stairs and could not help follow

I gonna walk and don't look back

The passenger (he rides and he rides)

Exhibitions

2023 - 44ste Kunstprijs Sint-Pieters Woluwe, selected (group exhibition)
2023 - “I am King”, KunztHuiz, Abdijsite van Herkenrode (group exhibition)
2023 - “This must be the place”, Galerij Artisjok, Lier (solo exhibition)
2022 - “Behind closed doors”, Galerie Martin Van Blerk, Antwerp (solo exhibition)
2022 - Puur Kunst, Garemijnzaal, Brugge (solo exhibition)
2022 - “Everything that happens'“, Le Neuf Gallery (solo exhibition)
2022 - “This must be the place”, cc De Meent, Alsemberg (solo exhibition)
2022 - nineteenth Gaver Prize - De Schakel, Waregem (group exhibition)
2021 - “Bella Ciao” Art27 in Heusden-Zolder (group exhibition)
2021 - AZ Sint Maarten, Mechelen (solo exhibition)
2021 - Art in the Village, castle-convent Ter Loo in Bellingen (group exhibition)
2021 - KNOFlook '21 - art parcours in Heule/Kortrijk
2021 - “It's a miracle we ever met”, Ijsberg Foundation, Damme (ex Bozar / Belgicart) (group exhibition)
2021 - Het Bankje: theatre project by KunstWerkt in collaboration with OpenDoek and Creatief Schrijven
2021 - “How did I get here?”, Gallery Artisjok, Lier (solo exhibition)
2020 - gallery Arttilia, Mortsel/Antwerp (group exhibition)
2020 - pop-up gallery Schorpioentje, Oud-Turnhout (group exhibition)
2019 - Elise Ka Gallery, Hasselt (duo exhibition)
2019 - Gallery Martin Van Blerk, Antwerp (solo exhibition)
2016 - Woonzorgcentrum Hof van Egmont, Mechelen (solo exhibition)