Nils Verkaeren: The Honouring of Our Roots

NILS VERKAEREN

THE HONOURING OF OUR ROOTS

Buysse Gallery presents the first collaboration between Belgian painter Nils Verkaeren and SCAPA, the Antwerp-based fashion house. The exhibition marks a poetic dialogue between painting and clothing, material and memory, gesture and garment.

Titled The Honouring of Our Roots, the exhibition features new large-scale canvases made by Verkaeren during a residency on the Isle of Skye in spring 2024. Painted en plein air, in direct response to the remote landscape, the works were shaped by wind, hail, salt and shifting light. Far from traditional plein-air painting, Verkaeren’s approach places the act of painting in confrontation with the elements — working within, and against, their forces.

In parallel, SCAPA translated fragments of two of Verkaeren’s works into silk scarves — not as reproductions, but as tactile continuations. The result is a limited-edition collection of 25 hand-numbered pieces, each presented in a bespoke box, accompanied by a signed certificate and an original gouache by the artist.

This collaboration celebrates shared origins: Arlette Van Oost, founder of SCAPA, began her fashion journey in the Orkney Islands, where the force of craft met the rhythm of the landscape. Today, through Verkaeren’s work, that spirit of origin returns — carried through paint, fabric, and presence.

The exhibition will take place at 12Antwerp, a temporary space for site-specific and interdisciplinary projects. Hosted by Buysse Gallery, The Honouring of Our Roots brings together two distinct practices united by material sensitivity, slowness, and a deep attentiveness to place.

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About the Artist

Nils Verkaeren (b. 1990, Antwerp) is known for his process-driven practice that explores the act of painting under pressure — environmental, emotional, and material. Working en plein air in extreme conditions, his work reflects the endurance of the painter and the trace of place. He is represented by Buysse Gallery.

About SCAPA

Founded by Arlette Van Oost, SCAPA is a Belgian fashion house rooted in elegance, craftsmanship, and quiet strength. Its collections draw inspiration from natural textures and northern light — offering timeless silhouettes shaped by heritage and tactility.