“Causa Vitae”
In the media-saturated world in which we live, we are constantly bombarded with information. We simply do not take the time to reflect upon the fundamental principles on which we would like to base the choices we make. In the nave of various churches he exhibits 25 oblong works posted on steel legs as “human figures”, grouped in various stages of life. Due to the placing and techniques used, the objects vacillate between painting and sculpture.
Symbolic use of materials and colours
The first “human figures” (birth) are made of egg-shells. Next are canvasses painted in acrylic and mixed media together with metallic sheets corroded by various acids to generate new patinas. They colour orange and further carmine referring to adolescence and adulthood. Burnt wood symbolises the oxidising, gradually dying human body. Temporarily protected by
a wrinkling skin, for which the artist employs bitumen tarpaper: torn, scratched, burnt and melted. By adding colours the palette evolves from almost virginal white over juvenile orange and mature carmine towards the autumnal brownish hue of old age. The series ends with black rubber, elastic and open to personal interpretation.
Mental effort
This life cycle, however impressive it may be, is merely the introduction to the essence of the project: the mental effort on behalf of the visitor. By passing through a turning steel staircase the viewer enters a smaller aisle or wherever possible he climbs the stairways towards the panoramic balcony where the organ is usually placed. Virtually away from the everyday rush and sitting between the beginning and the end of a life cycle he hears a series of philosophical statements. They are offered for his consideration as an incentive to explore his private answer tot the question: “what is the purpose, the meaning of my individual life?”
Book as a take away version
The exhibition is completed by means of the book "Causa Vitae", edited by publishing house Stockmans. It is an instrument to continue the mental process at home.