Dirk Van Saene

Biography

°1959, Leuven, BE.
Lives and works in Zandhoven, Belgium.

The art world has always been rather suspicious of any form that is purely visual, a form
where beauty or emotion prevails. A form that is often referred to as ‘design’ or
‘decoration’. Yet, it is precisely this twilight zone that interests Van Saene. As an artist, his work has no functionality: it still shows the human body, not in a direct context but rather as the notions of a human figure. At the same time, the emotions they depict are equally as important. His sculptures are the stage-managers of their own story. Not only with regard to their material, colours and shapes but also in the historic value that they carry and that he assigns to them.

Dirk Van Saene is represented by Gallery Sofie Van de Velde.

°1959, Leuven, BE.
Lives and works in Zandhoven, Belgium.

The art world has always been rather suspicious of any form that is purely visual, a form
where beauty or emotion prevails. A form that is often referred to as ‘design’ or
‘decoration’. Yet, it is precisely this twilight zone that interests Van Saene. As an artist, his work has no functionality: it still shows the human body, not in a direct context but rather as the notions of a human figure. At the same time, the emotions they depict are equally as important. His sculptures are the stage-managers of their own story. Not only with regard to their material, colours and shapes but also in the historic value that they carry and that he assigns to them.

Dirk Van Saene is represented by Gallery Sofie Van de Velde.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2023

'An angel, kissing spring', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE

2021

'Stories of hope and despair', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE

2017

'Ceramics', Song Song Gallery, Vienna, AT

2011

'Dirk Van Saene for Studio Delvaux', Showroom Delvaux, Brussels, BE

2009

'Ceramics', Song Song Gallery, Vienna, AT

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023

'MIRROR MIRROR - Fashion & the psyche', MoMu, Antwerp, BE

2016

'Rik Wouters & het huiselijk utopia', MoMu, Antwerp, BE

Residences

2011

'Artist in residence', 'Workshop in residence', San Francisco, USA

Artworks

Dirk Van Saene
Wonderboy - Adonis, god of beauty and youth -, 2023
Stoneware, wood, silver, copper, semi precious stones
154 x 50 x 91 cm

Dirk Van Saene
An angel, kissing spring, 2022
Stoneware, wood
105 x 44 x 32 cm

Dirk Van Saene
Centerfold, 2022
Stoneware, wood
188 x 51 x 36 cm

Dirk Van Saene
I'm mad about cats. Aren't you mad about them? I guess I've always been mad about cats, 2022
Stoneware, aluminum bottle, wood
114 x 60 x 40 cm

Dirk Van Saene
Eternal life and good fortune, 2022
Stoneware, wood, tweed, brush
200 x 55 x 40 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Future legend...", 2021
Acrylic on paper
150 x 135 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Love will tear us apart, again...", 2021
Acrylic on paper
150 x 118 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"You ought to be in pictures... oh what a hit you would be...", 2021
Acrylic on paper
150 x 120 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Stories of hope and despair...", 2020
Stoneware, wool, wood, horn
40 x 60 x 110 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Hit me baby, one more time...", 2020
Stoneware, wool, cotton, horn
65 x 110 x 110 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Don't wanna be your friend... I wanna kiss you...", 2020
Stoneware, tweed, cotton, silk, horn, wood, mother of pearl
50 x 130 x 147 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"I feel perfectly terrible...", 2020
Stoneware, tweed, cotton, silk, horn, wood
55 x 45 x 138 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Minotaurus..." (P.P.), 2020
Stoneware
36 x 28 x 158 cm

Dirk Van Saene
"Top of the world..." (R.S.), 2020
Stoneware
15 x 17 x 44 cm

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Publications