Photo by Lize Kraan

From the Misty Meadows: Tales of Toads and Tangled Twigs. | Sound design by larje100

Documented brainstorm session as part of my research of Het Reestdal for the installation "From the Misty Meadows..."

Pink room, part of installation 'The Intruder is Welcomed' | Sound design by larje100

'Come see my work' video for installation shown at Prospects Art Rotterdam

Des espaces autres in Upscale Galerie | Sound design by larje100

Where the winds mean nothing | zine

Once Upon a DOOM : the Zine

You wanna be our dog | zine commissioned by Anders Zine

Born in Venlo 1994
Lives and works in Utrecht (NL)
bentuwilms@gmail.com

Maybe my work is about dealing with and processing the reality of everyday life. Dealing with your personal world, your small reality and the reality of the big, outside world, that sometimes overpowers your personal world. When a threat from outside is sensible, but not concrete.Chaos, the unknown, sensory overload, impending doom.
Stories, fantasy, escapism, absurdism, symbolism.
Contrasts.

I experience the world as chaotic and elusive. A chaos that humans continually attempt to structure and give meaning to. My work revolves around this human desire to comprehend life, as I myself (unsuccessfully) try to create stories from a jumble of visual material.In my drawings, collages and installations, these random visual elements come together, evoking associations. Therefore, my work teeters on the edge of chaos and connection, randomness and meaningfulness.I often draw images reminiscent of fables, fairy tales, cartoons, and other fantasy worlds. Ways in which humans seek to attribute universal meaning to the world around them. Hereby I also bring an ode to using your imagination as a way to momentarily escape reality. The reality of a complex outside world that can sometimes overshadow your personal world.By placing my drawings in space and creating installations, the whole becomes a set. The idea of a set reinforces the concept that it's a staged situation, a fabricated story existing in a defined space and time.

Education
2021-2023 Bachelor of Fine Art and Design in Education deeltijd - HKU, Utrecht
2012-2016 Bachelor of Fine Art - HKU, UtrechtAlso working as an art teacher in primary education and extracurricular art education.Exhibitionsnow
till 10th of april - Floating from Earth or Falling Within - De Spelonk, Den Haag (solo)2024
Rest geen Rust - Croese Kunst keet, Utrecht (solo)
SwiepSwap Keiters en Kabouters - NAR, Utrecht
Hoog Catharijne POP-UP - OP&, Utrecht
Forever Young - Boterhal, Hoorn
Jubileumexpositie GETEKEND 2 - Galerie Getekend, Heerenveen
Grensloos Kunst Verkennen - De Wijk, IJhorst (solo at art route)2023
The horses flee their riders' victory - Kunsttraject - Etalages Zeeheldenbuurt, Amsterdam (solo)2022
Papertrails with Susanna Inglada - Kunstlinie, Almere (duo)
SwiepSwap Zwoele Zwembadhouse Editie - NAR, Utrecht
BIG ART - Hembrugterrein, Zaandam
Prospects - Art Rotterdam
Offline Exhibition - Tinimini Room, Dordrecht2021
Des espaces autres - Upscale Galerie, Rotterdam (solo)
Sticky Notes - Plaatsmaken, Arnhem
Kunstsalon IJL - Galerie Noord, Groningen
Where the winds mean nothing - Raam Maar, Rotterdam (solo)2019
Self Publish or be Damned - Academie Galerie, Utrecht
Art on Paper, Amsterdam - Galerie Getekend2018
Expo with Birgitt Busz - Galerie Gemeen-Goed, Abcoude (duo)
Streams of Consioussness - Drawing Centre Diepenheim2017
Mural - Swordfish & Friend - A014, Utrecht
Proomfile - EXbunker, Utrecht (solo)
Galerie Joghem, Sanquin, Amsterdam (solo)
FILLER - SIGN, Groningen2016
Expo Cultuur op de Campus - Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Selected By… Graduation Show Corrosia, Almere
Kleine Zaal: Imke Ruigrok invites: Bente Wilms - De Vishal, Haarlem
Exposure ‘16 - graduation show HKU, Utrecht2014
A Creature Called Soft Machine - Impakt - Academiegalerie, Utrecht
.unst - HKU Lange Vie, Utrecht
Luchtkastelen op Sypesteyn – Sypesteyn, LoosdrechtPrices and nominations
2016 . Nomination - Dooyewaard Stipendium
2016 . Nomination - Thesis award HKU
2020 . Mondriaan fund Stipendium for Emerging ArtistsPublications
2024 . GETEKEND 2 - jubileumkrant Galerie Getekend
2022 . Code name: Juni Rocket Racer Rebel Cortez - Murf/Murw Magazine no. 9
2019 . You wanna be our dog. - Special Edition Zine - Anders Zine
2018 . Central Exams Magazine for Visual Arts vmbo - Cito
2018 . Coverbeeld - Non-Issue #057
2016 . HKU Fine Art TWG catalogueSelf published
2021 . Where the winds mean nothing. (Zine)
2020 . Once Upon a DOOM: the Zine
2016 . ART A.K.A. THE WEIRD KID (and his misunderstood life) (Thesis)

Teksten

Interested?
Send me an e-mail :)bentuwilms@gmail.com