Jef Meyer’s choice of material is a bold one. The vast majority of the works he has been creating for almost ten years now are made using a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement that hardens over time: concrete. Over the years, he has been experimenting with dozens of different mixtures and techniques, leading to a boundless array of spectacular results. From smooth and silky to rugged and rough, and from mat to shiny and every gradation in between, every piece is stunningly unique. Brilliance and rawness complement each other. By adding various pigments and playing with drying periods and temperatures, the resulting texture is always different. And very important: the beauty is in the imperfections.

In his new series Jef explores fresh shapes and forms, adding gaps and openings, some highlighted by an internal wooden frame. Sometimes the work resists to be caged and discards the frame altogether.

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The next part of the journey is yours. Approach the works from different angles and see how the light hits the surfaces, bringing the pieces to life. Clouds, seascapes, the universe… Jef Meyer’s work evokes it all. Did he reach the limits of his imagination this time? We wouldn’t bet on it.

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Bio

"Jef Meyer graduated in 2014 from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Jury Prize In Situ. The artist mainly works with concrete, his favourite material. During the preparation process he experiments with shapes, types of sand, different layers and pigments. In this way he deliberately creates reliefs, figures and structures in his work. Depending on which types of sand he combines, he determines the final drawings and color nuances and shows the versatility of his material. The interplay between a delicate shine and a matt effect, light and shadow, also occurs during the creation. This creates a subtle movement. Sometimes his works almost seem marble and people often think it is polished afterwards, but no post-processing is involved. Everything that develops organically during the process, such as irregularities or cracks, is part of his work. The concrete retains its uncompromising character.

The work of Jef Meyer is influenced by brutalism and minimal art. That is why the environment is also important and decisive. Sometimes the work does not come in a frame, so that the wall or the space functions as one. As a result, Meyer’s oeuvre is situated somewhere between sculpture, painting and architecture." (PONTI)