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20/6/2007

Garden of Delight

Koningin FabiolaZaal, Antwerp

20 years of creation by art collective L'Anverre

By A.C. Ducreux, Chief curator for cultural heritage, Officer of Arts et Lettres

L' Anverre may seem to be just another artists' collective but it is much more than that: an attitude, a position, an ideological and political commitment of the different artists that compose it.

L'Anverre celebrates twenty years of activity this year. The “beautiful age” as some would call it. Young age when it defines that of an individual but true maturity when it comes to experience. Thus, this is the 20 years anniversary of the plural experiences of l'Anverre! Hybrid body constituted of singular artists, in fluctuant numbers, each with marked characteristics, masters of various techniques, l' Anverre is a difficult entity to define because it can produce success in domains as varied as sculpture, painting, installation, performance and design.

Of all the medias used by the collective, there is clay, glass, metal, textile, photography, music… and of all the artists founding members: Sem de l'Anverre, Marc Melis, Myriam Garouche, Armin Homolka (young engraver and exceptionally talented creator, now deceased) are joined today by other elements such as Kris Henkens, ‘the new kind in town'. Lievens Daenens, Director the Design Museum in Gent tells, “You are delicious genies of the artistic chaos".

In our times when the degree of sophistication attained by sciences, techniques, forms of thoughts are day after day separating us from the reality of objects, the artists of l'Anverre refuse the innocent and insignificant games of pure intellect to go into research and come back with visions of the sense to give to our lives. Trying to approach the complexity of this multiform entity is a dangerous exercise that cannot be conceived without approaching as closely as possible, the personality who was at the origin of this particular concept, the soul of L'Anverre and the gatherer of fellow artists, SEM.

Atypical artist, SEM is a free thinker is the sense that he doesn't not take part in any movement, school or any other ‘label' with a goal to define the artistic gesture in order to facilitate the work of critics and art theorists even though he accepts his kindred with some known movements (land art, for example).

Self taught, he experienced with all disciplines at an early age, no artistic expression is unknown to him: drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, music, dance (choreography). After a time of wandering around the world, he comes back to Antwerp where he now lives and creates "L'ANVERRE", un pun on the French name for Antwerp, "Anvers", the French word for glass, "en verre" (one of the materials he uses for his creations) and other French words with the same sonority.

With this, he gives the tone of the game: humour and fun is in the air. How does one gives account of a nature that is, as one, extravagant and secret, surprising, often human, always sensitive, the nature of a man who made his life and his work into a Manifesto for a better, a more beautiful life for all? A personage whose motto could be "no limits»?

On the occasion of the 20 years anniversary of the collective, a jubilee tour is organised in 2007-2008. The official launch will take place in Antwerp, the city that saw the birth of the group, in the exhibition space, Koningin Fabiolazaal (Queen Fabiola Room) under the title “Tuin der Lusten / Jardins des Délices / Garden of Delight”.

Afterwards, the exhibition will travel to Brussell/Wallonia and then fly to Asia (Korea, Thailand, Japan…) where L'Anverre's renown is already settled. L'Anverre is active in every artistic domain in Belgium and abroad. Its mode of creation is perfectly defined by these few lines of Lieven Daenens, Director of the Design Museum of Gent, in the catalogue "In en Uit": L'Anverre aspires to interaction between beings, materials and the environment. The concept of the individual creator becomes, in is ultimate phase of realisation, a collective event. This explains the great variety from design objects, often with extravagant forms, to mega sculptures and installations. Art critics have subconsciously a tendency to list art under the sole heading of 'style'. This is not possible with L'Anverre.

Their work is too much fun, sometimes too nonchalant and sometimes too baroque, even though too much cannot be a negative appreciation here. The frivolous and impish aspect is due to the personal character of the creators. And this is why one can speak about an integral work and not about a form of fashion. L'Anverre & Co., you are delicious genies of the artistic chaos. Their series of products in glass and ceramics are known throughout the world through design galleries. L'Anverre also creates sculptural installations in the private home of collectors, in public buildings and museums.

Antonino, l'Anverre With its' multidisciplinary approach, the group also works or used to work actively with master in floral arts, Daniël Ost, creator and architect Amandus Vanquaille of Nomad Concept, artist Jirri Suhajek... luminary editors Dark, Spiridon and Kreon, furniture and design editor Zanotta and with porcelain manufacture Royal Boch for their collection of ceramics. L'Anverre took care of the fitting out the Versace House in Miami. L'Anverre participated in several international scholarships and museum projects. It recently won numerous Belgian and International awards.

L'Anverre not only wishes to express an artistic message but also to be the bearer of a humanitarian message. Cooperation and exchange between persons of different cultures are very important to them. Tolerance and mutual respect are of the essence in their work.

In the Queen Fabiola Room the theme of Design will be approached from a particular angle. This is not a traditional exhibition with pedestals, window displays and didactic panels. L'Anverre creates an ambiance in which the visitors experience is of the essence. Artistic creations conceived from the elements of light (luminary), earth (glass and ceramics), water (water bar) and nature (floral installations) are assembled to create an atmosphere of relaxation. Music and rest areas invite the visitor to seize the instant: a nice setting and a glass of fresh water, the elements of nature…

The exhibition proposes, far from any snobbism, a form of harmony! Design is not to be understood as ‘art' but as an added value to make our lives more agreeable, to give us proper balance. To honour L'Anverre, is also to give great attention to the humanitarian dimension of the group. This objective is more difficult to encounter inside the exhibition than through the organised parallel activities. Two multicultural ‘happenings' will take place parallel to the exhibition: • A musical happening in collaboration with the 'Open Culturele Centrum/diversiteit.' • A multicultural lunch with Vredescentrum.

Satellite Exhibitions

L'Anverre is looking for partners, private or institutional, other than the Province of Antwerp, places to exhibit their artistic creations in domains other than design. The whole of their work could thus be discovered.

Projects of L'Anverre in progress, Appetizers: • Presentation of big photographs (2x3m) to throw a symbolic bridge from the FotoMuseum Provincie Antwerpen to the MUHKA, on the theme «multiculturalism in Antwerp », Antwerp (H)eerlijk. The photographs will be placed to like a visual ribbon on the Waalse and Vlaamse Kaai and will be a confrontation with the passerby. They will make references to L'Anverre's photographic work but also to the humanitarian message of appeal to tolerance. Students of Flemmish schools will contribute new images to this project. Timing: spring 2008

• Installation of giant sculptures in the city of Antwerp. Timing: summer 2008

• Place to be determined: «H2O» installation. This installation is built of several containers of different size and colour. They contain water and luminary elements integrated and are then filled with fishes, lobsters and live crustaceans… a sample of submarine life. Each container is an aquatic world in itself where water and light are mixed in a unique fashion. The visitor is invited to travel through a world composed of microcosms contained in liquid and non-liquid. Timing: summer 2008

• Place to be determined: «Cut the Crap» installation. Hundreds of glass scissors hang from the ceiling and allude to the inevitable tragedy following the visitor as the famous Sword of Damocles. He or she is confronted to this menace that literally floats above his or her head and, immediately, he or she is given a challenge, he or she is forced to accept of refuse this danger. The interaction between the installation and the visitor is always full of emotions. Timing: summer 2008

• Place to be determined: «Armin Homolka» retrospective, one of the deceased founding members of L'Anverre. Timing: 2008

Publication: Manifesto

The publisher, Stichting Kunstboek will publish a book on L'Anverre's twenty years of creation, in cooperation with the Province of Antwerp. This trilingual manifesto and art book will be distributed on the various locations of the itinerant exhibition and will enable the visitor to keep a record of these anniversary events. authors: L'Anverre, A.C. Ducreux, Lise Courier
preface: Camille Paulus, governor of the Province of Antwerp
lay out: Luc Vincent, L'Anverre
publishers: Province of Antwerp, Stichting Kunstboek

Opening: Thursday 21st June
19:00 - 20:15, press preview (by invitation)
20:30 - 24:00, party

Koningin FabiolaZaal
Jezusstraat 28 - Antwerp
Opening hours: daily, 10am-5pm, closed on Mondays

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