Veks Van Hillik's Surreal Murals Blend Dutch Still-Life with Ecological Subtext
Artist Veks Van Hillik creates surreal murals and paintings that reimagine Dutch Golden Age still-life tropes through a contemporary ecological lens. His work features fish, insects, birds, and hybrid creatures suspended in architectural niches, often with uncanny transformations—a butterfly missing its body, a heron's beak turning into a key, a tortoise-shell-backed hare. Van Hillik cites childhood lessons from his older brother and the endless variety of marine life as inspirations. His fish motifs explore themes of weightlessness, familiarity, and mystery, reflecting humanity's limited understanding of the ocean (only a quarter of the sea floor mapped). Recent work was included in "Common Waters" at Arch Enemy Arts, where a solo show is planned later this year.
Key facts
- Veks Van Hillik creates surreal murals and paintings inspired by Dutch Golden Age still-life.
- His work features fish, insects, birds, and hybrid creatures in architectural niches.
- Van Hillik learned to draw fish as a child from his older brother.
- He notes that only about a quarter of the sea floor has been mapped.
- His murals include a tortoise-shell-backed hare and a heron with a key-shaped beak.
- Van Hillik's work was recently in 'Common Waters' at Arch Enemy Arts.
- He has a solo show scheduled at Arch Enemy Arts later this year.
- Van Hillik explores ecological subtext and anthropomorphism in his art.
Entities
Artists
- Veks Van Hillik
- Rachel Ruysch
Institutions
- Arch Enemy Arts
- Colossal