JAN DRIES INFINITE END 06.09.19 > 07.12.19 Light and dark determine what I try to shape in marble. Inspiration gives light its own way of existence in a specific volume. Light’s versatility within the shape’s characteristics is the other of the one represented by space. The one is the other. In essence such an image made into a balance of light bears meditation, a kind of all-time: an indefinable own being that has brought into being an a-dimensional space in time.

Jan Dries

Visual: BACKSIDE (KEERZIJDE), 1983 - marble, 46 x 30 x 114 cm A – DIMENSION

Light and darkness determine what I want to realise in the marble as a form. Through inspiration light gets a life of its own in a defined volume. The changeableness of the light within what is characteristic of the form is the other aspect of that which represents space. The one is the other. Nature contains both poles within itself, always defining in its light and darkness capacity, which is intrinsically bound to the nature of the medium, where the possibility of continuous mobility interprets its always being different by its being light and darkness. The two poles replace each other and are complementary to each other. The play of the straight lines and the curves that cross each other as two equals. Light and darkness touch each other, become each other, far beyond the medium: outside becomes inside, the upper-side becomes under-side, left becomes right, and front becomes back. Space attains its A-DIMENSION, its universe, or whole, or total, unity. The one does away with the other, the whole seems to float and to lose its weight. It can transport one away, make one free. What I in fact want to attain is exactly this: to make something free in order to retain a feeling of freedom, to make the mind free by means of the stone, to give un indefinite time to its form, a continuous NOW-time: ‘’now, for one time, always’’. But also a measure of light-intensity, light-time, in one thing: the so much more. The unknown that some day could be the known. A recognition of an idea in which your own space rises above the everyday world.

The problem of how to unite the two elementary things that are visible, tangible and audible in the cosmos is the main driving force behind what I want to define, embrace and look at in my work. How can I demonstrate in an artwork that one is many, and many one? In fact I should not go beyond myself, at least if I feel the other in myself too, because the other I am also for someone else. In this way we are all the other, but the other way round the one too. In order to make them fuse together I say: the one and the other, or the one is the other. The things around us do not exist on their own, although it might seem to be so. In all cases they exist for each other, like man and women. They live in order to be ‘’one together’’, and this clarifies both sexes’ contribution to ‘’being one’’. I see the man as a cube form and the woman as a convex form. I put the two forms together, then each of them has something of the other. One thing never exist alone, they like in things, they exist for each other and by means of each other, so that through this a new order comes into being which demonstrates the whole of life in all its manifestations. Art is primarily a symbol that can elucidate things for man who, by being tied to life, can also feel free.

It is simply creating order in the chaos, so the art of it is to achieve this in some way or another; there can then be a joining together after all laborious process in the complexity of life. To become suddenly aware that it is possible to see the light, free, in whatever direction it goes. Free to re-set one’s boundaries: it becomes a-dimensional.

Exhibition «INFINITE END» at La Patinoire Royale | Galerie Valérie Bach in Brussels, from 06th of September to 07th of December 2019. Original text : Jan Dries, A-dimension, Maintenant - Une fois - Toujours, published by Van Spijk, 1986. Catalogue will be published, text from Greta Van Broeckhoven.

1 Translator’s note: Jan Dries’ language is so specific that ‘translating would be betraying’, so we opted for a translation that respects the sculptor’s expression. FREE (VRIJ), 1984 2 pieces, marble 50 x 50 x 100 cm/each ON-LOAD (OP-DRACHT), 1991 sculpture and base, marble sculpture 32 x 32 x 18 cm and base 30 x 30 x 30 cm MEDITATION STONES (MEDITATIESTENEN), 1962 8 elements, marble 9 x 9 x 9 cm SELF-LOAD (ZELFDRACHT), 1993 marble 25 x 25 x 25 cm JAN DRIES | BIOGRAPHICAL MARKS

1933 - 1945 Follows music lessons and gives concerts (clarinet)

1941 - 1947 Follows drawing lessons at Mol Art School, Mol,

1942 - 1948 Works part-time as photographer and becomes fascinated by light

1947 - 1949 Studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts , Antwerp, Belgium

1949 Receives the Bugatti Prize for sculpture

1949 - 1955 Studies at the National Higher Institute of Fine Arts Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

1950 Becomes a founding member of cultural society Nevelvlek; participates in magazine Het Kahier

1951 Receives the mastery prize for monumental art

1952 Makes a study trip to Italy

1955 Works in a studio at the Raapstraat (Antwerp), which becomes a meeting place for artists

1957 Receives a bronze medal for ceramics from the city of Liège, Belgium

1958 Becomes a founding member of the G58-Hessenhuis artists group Antwerp, Belgium Receives a gold medal on Expo 58 World’s Fair, Brussels, Belgium Makes a study trip to Spain and North Africa

1960 Becomes a member of Nieuwe Vlaamse School (New Flemish School) artists group Antwerp, Belgium

1962 Studies at the Scuola del Marmo in Carrara, Italy

1965 Is invited by the Henraux Foundation, Querceta, Italy

1970 - 1972 Receives the prize for best exhibition, awarded by art critics

1972 Is made Knight in the Order of Leopold II

1972 - 1974 Receives the prize for best exhibition, awarded by art critics

1974 Makes the “meditative space self-being”, integrated at Middelheim Museum Antwerp, Belgium

1979 - 1980 Receives invitation for “Symposium Blanc Vencac” near Belgrade, Serbia

1985 - 1986 Integrates “meditative space self-being” as a public square in Antwerp, Belgium

1986 Receives the lifetime achievement award by the Flemish Government

1987 Is made Knight in the Order of the Crown

2016 Becomes Honorary Citizen of , Belgium

2019 Refabrication of «Meditative space self-being» for Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, Belgium SELECTION | EXHIBITIONS IN BELGIUM

2019 JAN DRIES - «IT IS AS LIGHT AS IT IS DARK», Callewaert Vanlangendonck Gallery, Antwerp . MAGMA CLOUD ASHES, Belfius Bank Art Gallery, Brussels 2018 ROOM OF WONDER I: AXEL VERVOODT, DIVA Museum, Antwerp . ABOUT 60 YEARS G58 - HESSENHUIS, Callewaert-Vanlangendonck Gallery, Antwerp 2017 SCULPTING BELGIUM, La Patinoire Royale | Galerie Valérie Bach, Brussels . G58 & ZERO BEWEGING, EUROPEANEN AVANT LA LETTRE, Veilinghuis Campo (Trust in Art), Antwerp . ENCOUNTERS OF A FUTURE KIND, Royal Museum of Fine Arts at MAS, Antwerp 2016 SELECTION FROM THE PROVINCE OF ANTWERP COLLECTION, Museum Albert Van Dyck, . ART & FASHION, Recollection, Belfius Bank Art Gallery, Brussels . Callewaert-Vanlangendonck Gallery, Antwerp . LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT EXHIBITION «JAN DRIES BE-LICHT», De Bijl House of Culture, Zoersel 2015 THE MODERNS SELECTED, Koningin Fabiolazaal, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp 2013 THE MODERNS, Koningin Fabiolazaal, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp 2012 NEW ART IN ANTWERP 1958-1962: THE ATTIC MYTH, M HKA Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp 2010 WITHOUT LABEL, non-profit organization Monumental, 2008 FROM YOUR TIME ? ARTIFICES ON’ 58, City Museums, 2002 DE BIJL HOUSE OF CULTURE, Zoersel 1999 HET ELZENVELD - SINT-JORISPAND, Antwerp 1998 AN ARTIFICE ON 1968, Cultureel Centrum Antoon Spinoy, Mechelen 1995 CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, in collaboration with ’t Leerhuys Gallery Bruges, Brussels 1993 THE MUSEUM, Cultuurhuis de Warande, 1992 AMARYLIS GALLERY, Brussels 1989 BOZAR, Belfius Bank Art Collection, Brussels 1988 JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICS, Province of Antwerp, 1987 GALLERY XXI, Antwerp 1986 SCHALIËNHOEVE GALLERY, Province of Antwerp, Puurs 1984 RETROSPECTIVE, Bozar, Brussels 1983 DE GROOTE WITTE AREND GALLERY, Antwerp 1981 CERAMICS IN BELGIUM ‘45-’60, Design Museum, Gent 1980 150 YEARS OF BELGIAN ART IN THE COLLECTION, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels 1979 THE SIXTIES - ART IN BELGIUM, Sint Peter’s Abbey, Gent 1978 EROS AND FERTILITY, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp 1977 DE DOBBELHOEF GALLERY, Province of Antwerp, Kessel 1976 ASPECT 2, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi 1974 BELGIAN SCULPTURE, Middelheim Museum, Antwerp 1973 BIËNNALE VAN DE KRITIEK, Internationaal Cultureel Centrum, Antwerp . G58-HESSENHUIS, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp 1971 JEANNE BUYTAERT GALLERY, Antwerp 1969 BOZAR, Brussels 1968 ACCENT GALLERY, Brussels 1965 BIENNALE, Middelheim Museum, Antwerp 1963 FORUM 63, Sint Peter’s Abbey, Gent 1962 AD LIBITIUM GALLERY, Antwerp 1961 GALLO-ROMAN MUSEUM, Tongeren . FORUM 61, Sint Peter’s Abbey, Gent . BIENNALE, Middelheim Museum, Antwerp 1960 NIEUWE VLAAMSE SCHOOL, Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk, Antwerp 1959 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, Ostend 1958 FIRST EXHIBITION OF G58 ARTISTS GROUP, Hessenhuis, Antwerp 1956 CERCLE ARTISTIQUE, Antwerp 1955 DESIGN MUSEUM, Gent

SELECTION | EXHIBITIONS ABROAD

2018 SURFACES A FACE(S), Galerie et parc de sculpture de la Commanderie Peyrassol, Flassans-sur-Issole, France . FROM NATURAL WONDERS TO ART TREASURES, Natural History Museum, Shanghai, China 2015 PROPORTIO, The Belgian Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia and Axel & May Vervoordt Foundation, Palazzo Fortuny, Venice, Italy . RENDEZVOUS DER LÄNDER - NEUPRÄSENTATION DER SAMMLUNG PETER C. RUPPERT - KONKRETE KUNST IN EUROPA NACH 1945, Museum im Kulturspeicher, Würzburg, Germany 2014 WEIß - ASPEKTE EINER FARBE IN MODERNE UND GEGENWART, Museum im Kulturspeicher, Würzburg, Germany 2001 METAFISICA DELLA FORMA, UN building, Geneva, Switzerland . METAFISICA DELLA FORMA, Dresdner Bank, Düsseldorf, Germany 1998 WILLY BRANDT HAUS, Berlin, Germany . PALAZZO DELLE ESPOSIZIONE, Neuchâtel , Switzerland 1995 MUSIKHUSET, in collaboration with Euro-Marmo-Scultura, Arhus, Denmark . LA POMMERIE, Cultural Centre, Saint-Setiers, France 1993 L’ESPACE D’ART DU PARADOU, Le Paradou, France 1988 MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Utrecht, Netherlands 1986 VAN BOMMEL VAN DAM MUSEUM, Venlo, Netherlands 1982 RENCONTRE 82, L’ART BELGE DEPUIS 1945, Musée des Beaux-Arts, France 1981 DE RAAM GALLERY, Breda , Netherlands 1980 SMALL SCULPTURES, on occasion of the General Unesco Conference, Belgrade, Serbia 1978 KUNSTPALAST EHRENHOF, Düsseldorf, Germany 1976 LA DERIVE GALLERY, Paris, France 1975 DAS BELGISCHES HAUS, Cologne, Germany 1974 ART BELGE CONTEMPORAIN, Musées de Reims, Reims, France 1973 YOUNG SCULPTURE FROM BELGIUM, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, Netherlands 1966 8 FROM ANTWERP, Rotterdam Art Foundation, Rotterdam, Netherlands 1964 MOSTRA INTERNAZIONALE D’ARTE D’AVANGUARDIA, Galleria d’Arte Numero, Firenze, Italy 1963 EUROPÄISCHE AVANTGARDE, D. Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany 1962 BIENNALE INTERNAZIONALE DI SCULTURA, Carrara, Italy 1960 DELTA GALLERY, Rotterdam, Netherlands . MILAN, Italy - PARIS, France 1959 NUOVE TENDENZE BELGI, Galleria Pagani, Milan, Italy 1957 BERLIN, Germany - ROTTERDAM, Neherlands - STOCKHOLM, Sweden - UTRECHT, Netherlands 1956 HET VENSTER GALLERY, Rotterdam, Netherlands 1955 ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - HILVERSUM, Neherlands - LONDON, United Kingdom - PARIS, France

SELECTION | COLLECTIONS

Antwerp University – UFSIA, Antwerp, Belgium . Axel and May Vervoordt Foundation, , Belgium . Belfius Bank, Brussels, Belgium . BNP-Paribas-Fortis Bank, Brussels, Belgium . Centre de la Gravure et de l’Image imprimée de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, La Louvière, Belgium . Chateau Malescasse, Lamarque, France . Cinema Astrid, Antwerp, Belgium . City of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia . City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands . Cockerill Shipyards, Ougrée, Belgium . De Lijn, Antwerp, Belgium . Fibac, Berchem, Belgium . , Belgium . Flemish Community, Ferraris Building, Brussels, Belgium . Province of Antwerp, Belgium . Janssen Pharmaceutics, Beerse, Belgium . KLM, Amsterdam, Netherlands . Magritte Museum, Brussels, Belgium . MBZ nv – Port Authority, Zeebrugge, Belgium . Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, Belgium . Mol Municipality, Belgium . Mondriaanhouse, Amersfoort, Netherlands . Museum Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen, Netherlands . Museum Het Sterckshof, Antwerp, Belgium . Museum Kulturspeicher Würzburg, collection Peter Ruppert, Germany . Muzee Museum, Ostend, Belgium . National Bank of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium . OCMW, City of Antwerp, Belgium . Permeke Library, Antwerp, Belgium . Penitentiairy Center, Brugge, Belgium . Philips Eindhoven/Amsterdam, Netherlands . Proctor & Gamble, European Technical Center, Brussels, Belgium . Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium . Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium . SCK-CEN, Mol, Belgium . Sint-Lievenscollege, Gent, Belgium . SMH Omega, Brussels, Belgium . Town Musea, Kortrijk, Belgium . Zoersel Municipality, Belgium INFORMATIONS PRATIQUES

La Patinoire Royale | Galerie Valérie Bach Rue Veydt, 15 1060 Bruxelles Belgique www.prvbgallery.com

Duration of the exhibition : from the 06th of September to the 07th of December 2019 For additional informations and visual display units, please contact : [email protected]

INFORMATIONS T. +32 (0)2 533 03 90 [email protected]

PRESSE COMMUNICATION Marie Jacquier, Art & Communication : [email protected]

SCHEDULE Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm Closed on Sundays and Mondays Free Entrance

ACCES Métro Louise (ligne 2 et 6) Tram Arrêt Faider (92 et 97) / Arrêt Defacqz (93 et 94) Train Bruxelles Central Paris > Bruxelles 1h30 Londres > Bruxelles 2h00

PARKING Parking access Parking Q-Park, rue de Livourne, 11 - 1000 Bruxelles

REDUCED MOBILITY All exhibition spaces are wheelchair accessible