Earth, mirror of the soul. Ceramics by Antoine de Vinck (1924-1992)
An exhibition at Château Jourdain in Kraainem, from 14 April to 26 May 2024
The ceramist-sculptor Antoine de Vinck lived and worked in Kraainem for 30 years, from 1954 to 1984. He raised the art of ceramics to a level that saw him recognised as a master both nationally and internationally. The Discover Kraainem non-profit-making association and the municipality of Kraainem are joining forces to organise a tribute exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Antoine de Vinck owes his introduction to ceramics to Bernard Leach, considered to be the founder of English "Studio Pottery": reading A Potter's Book had a considerable influence on the young Belgian ceramist. De Vinck translated it into French, distributed it among his potter friends and finally met Leach himself in Cornwall.
He became a potter and remained one all his life, striving for perfect mastery of the ceramic technique. His preferred medium was stoneware, fired in a wood-fired kiln at 1250° - 1280° C. But he was also an authentic sculptor: animals, objects bearing witness to a sacred presence and inviting meditation or contemplation (embossed stelae and sacred stones, temples, abstract works known as "mirrors of the soul"), anthropomorphic figures both of great simplicity and highly expressive. Like the English sculptor Henry Moore, whom he greatly admired, he drew on civilisations far removed in time and space. He drew inspiration from tradition and introduced it into modern adventurousness. It is highly likely that Le Roi et la Reine, one of the centrepieces of the exhibition, was inspired by Henry Moore's King and Queen.
More than 70 works by the artist - ceramics, often of imposing size, as well as drawings - will be on show, from museums and private collections. Some of them have never before been seen by the public, not even in photographs.
Practical details:
Exhibition venue: Château Jourdain, avenue Dezangré/chemin du Château in Kraainem (car park).
Opening times for individuals: Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 9pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10am to 6pm. Bookings should preferably be made via the ticket office https://www.discoverkraainem.be/expo-eng-1 (8€).
Opening times for groups / guided tours: Monday and Tuesday all day, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 5pm, info: Colette Storms, colette.storms@skynet.be or +32 477 64 91 18.Richly illustrated catalogue (€25) available at the exhibition or discoverkraainem@gmail.com, the Brussels bookshops Tropismes, Filigranes and Livres d’art du XXe s. (rue Mac Arthur 2).
