Boss

The Solitude of Command: An overview of this series of pieces created between 1999 and 2005.

“The boss”, Oil, 1999, 96×80.

The ‘Boss’ series is a profound meditation on the isolating heights of leadership and the introspective journey it entails. Joseph Delmeire, once a commanding figure in the construction industry, translates the weight of decision and solitude of responsibility into a visual language. Each piece is an abstract realm where colors converse and contest on a dark background, symbolic of the difficult decisions made in solitude. This series mirrors Delmeire’s personal narrative, where at the zenith of his business career, the vibrant chaos of life was often punctuated by moments of solitary reflection.

“The lady boss”, Acrylic & Oil, 1999, 120×80.

Delmeire’s use of a simple palette speaks to the gravity of a leader’s role, the shadows cast by power, and the bright spots of clarity that punctuate it. The ‘Boss’ series is not just an exploration of color and form but an introspective dive into the psyche of those who bear the mantle of leadership. The viewer is invited to stand in the shoes of the ‘boss’, to feel the serenity of control paired with the undercurrent of constant scrutiny and the weight of consequence.

“The Olympic torch”, Acrylic, 2000, 100×80.

In these canvases, Delmeire reaches into his own experience of fall and redemption, painting the quietude after the storm of his legal battles. It is here, in the aftermath, where he found a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to his spiritual and artistic journey. The ‘Boss’ series is thus a silent conversation between Delmeire and the viewer, a dialogue about the duality of leadership—the light and dark, the seen and unseen, the power and loneliness that come with the title.

“The ship”, Acrylic, 2005, 70×50.