The first type of place to escape to are imaginary worlds. The artists Charles Avery and Tom Poelmans will introduce you to their own worlds.

Both are based on the real world, but use added imaginary elements to them. This to make their worlds still recognizable and actually realistic for the viewers. That's also why we've chosen them for the exhibition. If we would have done completely surrealistic paintings the viewers can't place their self in the new world, which makes the art difficult to understand for the viewer.

2.1: Avery, Charles. Two cyclists beneath the porticos of the City Wall. 2021.
217 x 152cm

2.2: Avery, Charles. City Wall market scene. 2021.
220 x 350cm

2.3: Avery, Charles. Market Stand #4. 2020.
106 x 230 x 115cm

2.5: Avery, Charles. Market Stand #6. 2020.
125 x 160 x 85cm

2.4: Avery, Charles. Inner Circle, Onomatopoeia Zoo. 2016.
203,5 x 338cm

Charles Avery (1973) is a Scottish artist from Osben. Since 2004 his work is all about constantly creating an imaginary island. Through his drawings, sculptures and texts he adds information and context to his island.

The artist tells infectiously about a country with no name and no currency, where the inhabitants can predict the future and are addicted to pickled eggs. From the market in Onomatopoeia (the island's capital) to The Eternal Forest, which is said to be home to the mythical beast Noumenon.

Through his practice he creates this new, imaginaire world where he creates his own rules, economy, psychology and landscape.

Tom Poelmans (1984) is a painter that often has the idea that he has the freedom to paint whatever he wants. Maybe this is true, maybe it isn’t. Each time whenever he starts with a new painting he likes to begin with this rather naïve thought that he can paint anything he wants to.

He takes inspiration from the objects that decorate his studio: toys, memorabilia, Greek sculptures. In doing so, Tom plays with these symbols and metaphors to create his own world, which reminds him of his studio in his hometown.

2.7: Poelmans, Tom. Fountain of youth. 2020.

2.6: Poelmans, Tom. The happy entrance of prince Poelmans as the city of earthly delights. 2021.

2.8: Poelmans, Tom. A dead man's dream. 2020

2.9: Avery, Charles. Aleph Nul. 2006.