In the associative and philosophical works of Jochem Mestriner all sorts of real and fictional characters, scenario’s, and narratives appear. Inspired by literature, video games, art history, and language, Mestriner’s approach starts with reading and writing. Writing himself as much as reading, the artist triggers thoughts, associations, characters, and shapes; sometimes reminiscent of epic tales that predate us, sometimes wildly unfamiliar. By rewriting, rethinking, shaping and reshaping, eventually his work materialises into the paintings we see. Mestriner’s works, in that sense, are like a continuous exercise of thought in which characters from one painting can easily appear again in others and new patterns or narratives can suddenly emerge.

Different stories and scenarios also require Mestriner to paint in different styles. Keen on single brushstrokes, he enjoys expressing the painterly nature and futility of imagination. Bordering the absurd at times, Mestriner’s paintings challenge the spectator to read into them. The true anecdotes behind the paintings, however, are not easily revealed, bordering humour, weirdness, and the epic character of classic stories.

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