The Labours of the Months was one of the most popular themes of the Medieval and Early Renaissance periods. There
are countless painted and sculpted versions of this subject. The pieces usually depict agricultural activities that commonly
occurred in the given months of the year and are often linked to the signs of the Zodiac. Vermeulen's series of
paintings takes the traditional labours as a springboard for investigating a contemporary world of contradictions, polarities,
and paradox. He uses symbolic and allegorical images, to create visual allegory that is deeply personal and about
our universal condition. Through autobiographical narratives, displayed in self-portraiture, the work is part of a struggle
for self-discovery.
