The Emile van Dorenmuseum invited Nils Verkaeren to participate in the group exhibition “Summertime”. Verkaeren, known for the landscape to be his alibi to paint, could have followed the footsteps of Emile van Dorens (1865 – 1949) who turned his back to the human impact of nature while choosing for the picturesque. Instead, Verkaeren was determined to interprete and paint the landscape of Genk in its actual appearances: a patchwork quilt marked with human activity. He achieved to capture this idea using a completely different angle: a view from above in the air. In cooperation with an aero club, The Wings of Limburg, from the town of Zwartberg, Verkaeren was able to fly over his beloved painting spots. This resulted in 4 grand canvases offering a contemporary look on traditional genre scenes.

‘Verkaeren's paintings succeeded in doing what art does best: connecting people. He came to Genk with such an incredible energy that he managed to unite each one of our community.’ -Kristof Reulens