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Strangers: Jacques Viljoen explores the theme of estrangement by recreating found books

In his series Strangers, South African artist Jacques Viljoen explores the theme of estrangement through a series of paintings on found books, which he's collected from markets over the last 12 months.

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Figure in dark clothing standing at a wooden railing overlooking a misty forested landscape, painted on found book pages

Now available to view in an exhibition at MostArt Centre in Stoke Newington, the artworks tell the story of a fictional character, recounting her experiences of estrangement. This includes memories of distance childhood friends, strange new cities, new and old lovers, and eventually, herself.

Jacques said: "I had the idea for this exhibition a couple of years ago, while I was adjusting to life as a foreigner in my new home of London. It started off with collecting and painting on books but as my skills in traditional painting progressed, I was able to start capturing moments from life in the form of landscapes and portraits. It occurred to me that I needed a venue to exhibit my work that would bring strangers together."

Born in Cape Town, Jacques studied a BA in fine art at The University of Cape Town, majoring in painting, and left South Africa after graduating in 2011 to pursue the dream of qualifying for the Olympics in the sport of fencing. He emigrated to the UK in 2012 after an injury sustained in 2012 put him out of the running for qualification.

In 2016 he studied academic painting and drawing at a number of institutions in London and Florence, Italy. Strangers at MostArt Centre will be his first solo show.

Via Creative Boom submission | All artworks courtesy of the artist

Three young children sit beneath a tree trunk in a field, rendered in soft, blurred brushstrokes in muted earth tones and greens
Portrait painting of a person with long dark hair and dangling earrings against a muted green background, from Jacques Viljoen's Strangers series
A woman with dark hair leans against a white pillow, gazing toward a hazy cityscape with an industrial structure visible in the misty distance
Portrait painting of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a beige and black garment against a deep blue background
Woman gazing upward beneath a starlit sky rendered in soft purple and blue tones with white brushstrokes suggesting falling snow or stars
Two figures embrace in heavy rain, painted on a found book with soft, muted tones and streaked brushwork depicting the downpour
Blurred figures stand in a misty interior lit by a window with gridded panes, evoking themes of distance and estrangement in Jacques Viljoen's painting
Oil portrait painting of a Black man with short dark hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and beaded necklace against a muted green background
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