Batist Vermeulen (aka Tist) is an interdisciplinary artist from Belgium.

The ‘Condition Humaine’ and ‘mismatch are central themes in his works. With curiosity as a force, he looks at himself as a human being with doubts, fears, etc. and tries to project what he sees and feels on the world to see if there’s solution in some kind of response. Acknowledging his doubts and uncertain search offers a grip and drive. Even if this search doesn’t lead to direct responses or solutions, in the process there’s realness and beauty to be found.
Look close enough and you will see the sun shining through the cracks.

By allowing for loss of control in the production process, objets trouvés, deconstruction, and fragmentation but also by deliberately not finishing, showing a process, and combining natural and unnatural materials, he aims to create fresh, honest and captivating works.

Batist strives to distance himself from beauty ideals by challenging existing frameworks, icons, and concepts, resulting in images that ‘stick’. At the same time he combats this gravity with lightness using a touch of humor. A cartoonist turned sculptor, that’s how you might describe him. Other call it Neopop with a twist.

You can find duality in his work in various forms: functional forms vs. dysfunctionality, lollipop colors vs. melting heads, nature mimicking with artificiality.

His way of working starts with many sketches to arrive at a refined concept. But within the concept, he gives himself creative space in execution. Whether the initial concept remains intact is irrelevant. The end justifies the means.