Nils Verkaeren – El Pulso del Agua
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A "contemporary plein air" approach, painting expeditions through the remote landscapes of Colombia.
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Nils Verkaeren – El Pulso del Agua
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El Pulso del Agua by Nils Verkaeren
Nils Verkaeren's El Pulso del Agua, a documentation of painting through eschewing the traditional studio for a "contemporary plein air" approach.
El Pulso del Agua (The Pulse of the Water) documents the ambitious painting expeditions of Belgian artist Nils Verkaeren across the diverse landscapes of Colombia, eschewing the traditional studio for a "contemporary plein air" approach. Over several years, Nils Verkaeren travelled along these waterways, from the Magdalena and the Cauca to the remote rivers of the Amazon basin, working directly within the landscapes they shape. El Pulso del Agua brings together paintings and reflections that emerged from these encounters. Rather than approaching water as a motif, Verkaeren understands it as a principle, a force through which landscape reveals itself as movement, erosion, sediment, and time. Painting becomes a way of reading the territory, of entering the slow pulse of rivers that have shaped Colombia for millennia. The resulting canvases are more than mere representations; they are physical records of the journey, often carried through harsh terrain and shaped by the local climate, movement, and geography.
With contributions from Colombian ecologist and academic Brigitte Baptiste and art historian Eva Wuytjens, this monograph traces Verkaeren’s immersive process, in which the act of painting becomes inseparable from the acts of travel and research. The book highlights Verkaeren’s unique ability to merge sensory experience with the natural world. By integrating the physical conditions of his environment into his work, Verkaeren transcends classical landscape traditions to create a visceral, personal dialogue with nature. This publication serves as a vital record of his exploration into how place and time shape the contemporary image.
Nils Verkaeren (b. 1980) is a Belgian painter whose practice is defined by direct engagement with the natural world. Eschewing the confines of a traditional studio, he works as a contemporary plein air painter, seeking to merge his artistic vision with the energy of his surroundings. Verkaeren has repeatedly withdrawn from society to paint in remote, often inhospitable environments, undertaking expeditions across Morocco, Mexico, and Colombia. As of 29 April 2026, he is presenting a solo exhibition at the Museo de Pereira in Colombia (Cra. 10, Pereira; free admission). He has also been featured at Art Brussels and ARTBO (Bogotá). Verkaeren is represented by Galerie Zwart Huis and is based in Antwerp, Belgium.
Brigitte Baptiste (b. 1963) is a Colombian ecologist and academic known for her influential work in biodiversity conservation and environmental policy. She has led major research and policy initiatives, notably as director of the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute, where she advocated for sustainable development and the integration of scientific, cultural, and Indigenous knowledge. As a leading voice in Colombia—one of the world’s most biodiverse countries—she promotes participatory conservation and the protection of ecosystems as part of cultural identity. Beyond her scientific contributions, Baptiste is also a prominent transgender public figure who advocates for diversity, inclusion, and gender equity. She is currently the rector of EAN University and continues to bridge environmental science and human rights on both national and global stages.
Specifications
Softcover
176 pages
Ota-bind binding
24 x 32 cm
1470g
Language: English
Published in April 2026
ISBN: 9789464002942
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