Martin Schelstraete: the human being as an inexhaustible source of inspiration

Martin creates paintings, drawings, and prints. Working in layers with oil paint, the direct nature of drawing, and the technical craft of printmaking each offer distinct possibilities for imagination, exploration, and expression. In every medium, he finds a unique way to express himself. Martin has a keen interest in portraits, through which he gets very close—almost literally—to the skin of the other person.

For him, human beings and their existence serve as an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The conversations he has, the situations and experiences he encounters in daily life, and everything that resonates with him in the process often act as a starting point for his work. Through the act of sketching, he processes these impressions, experiences, and observations, giving rise to compositions that range from the purely personal to universal expressions of themes such as loneliness and distance versus connection and intimacy.

Martin closely observes how people, in such situations, relate to themselves and to one another: what do they do, what do they refrain from doing—do they withdraw into themselves, or do they actively seek connection with others? These observations reveal a multi-layered picture of what waiting truly entails.

WAITING: between leaving and arriving

Central to this exhibition is the theme of waiting: a pause—whether chosen or otherwise—that occurs while in transit, somewhere between departure and arrival. It is a phase in which you have nothing to do; depending on the moment, you might use this time for self-reflection, experience boredom, withdraw into yourself, or, conversely, seek connection with others. Consider, for instance, waiting for a train on a deserted platform: your thoughts begin to wander, and you suddenly become acutely aware of the people around you and the silence that prevails.

In his work, Martin also addresses another aspect of waiting: being vigilant—that is, being consciously present in the moment, both physically and mentally. In such a state, you remain alert to your surroundings, as well as to your own thoughts and feelings, even when, ostensibly, nothing is happening. There is an openness to whatever may arise—consider, for instance, waiting at a checkout counter, in a subway station, or during a pause in the flow of your daily life.

Address:
’t Oude Raadhuis, Dorpsstraat 9  1431 CA. Aalsmeer

Opening hours:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm till 5pm

For more information:
martin.schelstraete@gmail.com
www.martinschelstraete.nl
www.kunstencultuuraalsmeer.nl