She Came Out of the Darkness by Patrick Vermeiren
Height: 69cm {including base, 20cm}
media: Bronze
price: P.O.A.
The Artist
Patrick Vermeiren was born in Antwerp on the 20th May 1967. He was the youngest son of working-class parents with five children and grew up in a poor neighbourhood.
At a young age Patrick already had the desire to become an artist. His primary school teachers noticed that he had an extraordinary affinity with pencils, paint, plasticine and clay and they advised his parents to ensure that he followed 'Art' at secondary school. Thus he studied Plastic Arts and later Stage Decor and Lettering at the Municipal Institute for Decorative Arts and Crafts in Antwerp.
After a few years in publicity - he painted and moulded in his spare time - he decided to start sculpting full time. The impetus had been given by Minneke Van Campen, the daughter of the painter Jef Van Campen, together with one of Patrick's friends. Minneke promotes the work of artists and tries to find them a wider audience. She recognised Patrick's talent and motivated him to take part in one of her group exhibitions (YAC 1998). It was the first time he had exhibited his bronze sculptures, and received wide acclaim.
An Van den Eeden, Patrick's partner, attends to the commercial side of Patrick's art. She links the magical world of the artist to his audience and builds bridges to galleries and businesses.
His Working Method
Patrick uses the 'lost wax method'.
He prefers to mould his figurines directly in wax. This method allows him to work in minute detail, which is a characteristic of his work. He uses a hard type of wax that becomes malleable at a temperature between 37°C and 42°C.
Once the wax model is finished, it is stored in a cool place, so it keeps its shape until it goes to the bronze caster. He attaches air ducts, which allow the air to escape when the liquid bronze is cast in the fireproof form, and casting channels, through which the liquid bronze is poured.
A fireproof mixture is applied around the wax model to which the air and casting channels have been attached. When the mixture has dried completely, the original wax model is melted and lost.
The space that remains is the negative of the original wax sculpture. Liquid bronze is cast into it. Once the bronze has solidified and cooled, the bronze caster chisels off the fireproof form.
This leaves the bronze with the air and casting channels, which need to be rubbed down. Where they where attached, the sculptor will have to repair the surface.
Once this is done, the statue can be coloured, using an artificial 'patina'. Patrick Vermeiren chooses to do this himself. The colour of the statue will vary, depending on the temperature at which it is heated, the chemicals used, and the way the patina is applied.
His Statues
Patrick Vermeiren tries to represent the human body in all its aspects. Some of his statues are true to nature : classic nudes.
Others are the fruit of fantasy : female and male figures with impossibly long, slender, stilt-like legs, ending in lifeless, hoof-like feet. Figures straight from the artist's fantasy world.
Some of his figures look forbidding : a mask-shield-like face of an emaciated, sick, old man. This figure was conceived when Patrick's father was dying of cancer.
Usually, however, Patrick gives his characters a supernatural, pure beauty. He sees man as more beautiful than he is in reality and this is clearly reflected in his sculptures.
He clads his slim female or male figures in sober robes or leaves them naked ; he gives them bizarre headwear and experiments with their elegant, sometimes erotic, often dramatic poses.
EXHIBITIONS
March 1998
July 1998
September 1998
April 1999
September 1999
March 2000
September 2000
November 2000
February 2001
September 2001
7 September 2001 - 10 September 2001
13 September 2001 - 23 September 2001
2002
Biographical Note:
PATRICK VERMEIREN
BRONZE
THE ARTIST AND HIS WORK
Young Art Collectors
Group exhibition
Het Oude Badhuis - Antwerp
A Romance of Art and Nature
Duo exhibition
Rivierenhof - Deurne, Antwerp
Culturele Centrale Reynaert
Group exhibition
Het Oude Gemeentehuis - Nieuwkerken-Waas
Het Naaktmodel
Group exhibition
Galerij Lorenzo - Deurne, Antwerp
Culturele Centrale Reynaert
Group exhibition
Het Oude Gemeentehuis - Nieuwkerken-Waas
Young Art Collectors
Group exhibition
Galerij Venus van Milo - Hoboken
Culturele Centrale Reynaert
Group exhibition
Het Oude Gemeentehuis - Nieuwkerken-Waas
Solo exhibition
Galerij Crearte - Schilde
8 February 2001 - 24 February 2001
Triėnnale van de beeldhouwkunst
Campo & Campo
Berchem, Antwerp
2 September 2001 - 14 October 2001
Galerie Maya Wildevuur
Hooghalen - The Netherlands
Culturele Centrale Reynaert
Het Oude Gemeentehuis - Nieuwkerken-Waas
Young Art Collectors
Galerij Venus van Milo - Hoboken
Gallery "Pro-Art", Lier
Gallery "Maya Wildevuur", Hooghalen, Holland
Gallery "Pantheon", Knokke
Gallery "Arte.On", Knokke
"Classic", Kortrijk
"Lineart", Ghent
Gallery Blackheath, London, U.K.
Absolute Art Gallery, Knokke
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