Burry Buermans

Nostalgia, authenticity and the contrast between content and shape are important in the artwork of Burry Buermans. He is fascinated by old books and magazines and inspired through their original drawings and pictures. Buermans onlyuses original images for his collages. He collects books and magazines and cuts out the pictures and drawings to create a collage. For every work, he uses one kind of images, for example, only butterflies in different colors and shapes. Buermans likes to play with contrasts and opposing themes: butterflies in the shape of a skull or images of SM in the shape of cartoon figure Mickey Mouse. He deliberately chooses for recognizable shapes that instantly evoke emotions and thoughts in the spectator. The viewer’s eye is first drawn to the shape of the collage, and then to the content, the detailed images that are often in clear contrast with that shape. This contrast often carries out a underlying message, that lead to ethical questions. Buermans puts a lot of detail in his work, he invites the spectator to take the time to observe his work and discover the hidden details and stories. The amount of possible combinations between shape and content is endless and this is what attracts the artist. Moreover, by using old drawings and pictures, he renews their function and value. It doesn’t go to waste but are recycled in an artistic way.

The collages are made with original images from books, magazines and papers from the year 1874 till now. All images are cut out by hand and then put together with eye for detail. For cutting the paper the artist uses several precision knives and scissors, depending on the kind of paper and the eventual shape. The cut out images are glued together in a certain shape. The type of glue depends on the paper quality. In the end the contours and details are finalized. The first works of Buermans were glued on a paper or wooden background and then framed. Nowadays he puts the collage, without a background, between two pieces of plexiglass. This way also the back of the work is visible, and therefore the artist’s puzzle work. Of every work maximum 50 high quality copies are made (1200dpi) on Barriet paper of 310gr. All copies are titled, stamped, numbered and have the date of printing.

Burry Buermans, is a young Belgian artist (°1982) based in Portugal. As a child he had a curious eye for art and the innocent dream to become an artist one day. He didn’t go to art school but always experimented with different art forms. For a long time he was looking for his own style and medium until he randomly ended up making collages. His life motto is “Chase your dreams, wherever they take you”, so he collected old Trabant cars, started a theatre company, organized and decorated his own parties, and hitchhiked around the world. During one of his trips in Panama, Latin America, he was shot by robbers. This shocking event strengthened his passion for life even more. Back in Belgium he worked as a teacher and coordinated a youth service. In the summer of 2012, he moved to Portugal to focus on his work as an artist, making collages, and fulfilling his dream.