By Olimpia Bellan

BEHIND THE ART OF EELCO HILGERSOM
Eelco Hilgersom’s bold, abstract artworks fuse vibrant colours and textured layers, drawing raw energy from nature’s chaos. His visual storytelling invites us to see the world through a fragmented yet deeply immersive lens, taking us to a wondrous microcosm where the infinite architectural shapes of nature reveal themselves.

What led you to become an artist? 
My journey to becoming an artist was an organic evolution. Since childhood, I have always been fascinated by the beauty of nature and the evolution of organisms. And throughout my life, I felt an irresistible urge to express my creativity. Initially, I channelled this through drawings and designs as a graphic designer, but eventually I craved a space where creativity knew no boundaries. This is when the artist within me truly emerged.

Your work plays with abstraction and organic forms. What’s the creative process behind your art?
I love being in nature or if I can’t be in nature, I like to watch documentaries about nature. All the beautiful organisms that our nature creates really inspires me. What I aim to do is to capture this beauty in an abstract way. The artworks from my Habitat family are inspired by the many wonderful organisms that nature creates. The organic shapes, colours and the reflective surface create a new kind of creature that wants to convey a message or an emotion. Every shape and colour conveys a different emotion and that is why each creature from the Habitat family has its own name, which equates to an emotion it wants to convey.

The use of layers and texture in your art creates a sense of depth and complexity. What role does texture play in conveying your ideas or emotions to the viewer?
Texture is an essential element of my art; it allows me to convey the intricacies of my ideas and emotions in a tangible way. By incorporating various textures and layers I create depth and complexity that invites the viewer to explore the artwork more intimately. The reflective surface also allows viewers to see themselves hundreds and sometimes thousands of times, really establishing the connection with the emotion that the artwork conveys.

In several pieces there’s a striking contrast between vivid, almost surreal colours and subtle, earthy tones. What do these contrasts represent in your work?
I revel in the play of contrasts, be it in texture or colour. The interplay of colours creates a vibrant dialogue, allowing each hue to command its own stage and receive the attention it deserves. This dynamic is a mirror of nature’s own artistry. The colours, structures, and capabilities of the skins of various organisms endow each being with a unique ability to communicate. Colours serve as signals, whether to intimidate a foe or lure a mate. The more vivid the colour, the more potent the message. This natural symphony of contrasts is what I strive to capture in my artworks.

Your art seems to invite the viewer to explore the architectural shapes of nature. What’s your creative philosophy behind this?
When viewers immerse themselves in my artworks, I invite them to ponder the marvels and splendour of nature. My hope is that they will come to cherish the world and one another during our fleeting time on this planet.

How visually thirsty are you?
I am always observing and gazing at the world around me. I notice the tiniest details, some perfectly beautiful and perfectly imperfect. Even when I close my eyes at night, I see patterns and colours. Some of these visions inspire me, while others are simply pleasant to behold. My curiosity drives me to explore these patterns and colours, constantly thinking about how I can transform them into abstract art and touch as many people as possible. My work in one phrase: abstract reflections of nature’s beauty.

eelcohilgersom.com