Maarten Ceulemans (1983)

Lives and works in Betekom [B]

Using traditional wood carving techniques, the Belgian artist Maarten Ceulemans (1983) creates his own universe in which humans, animals, and nature take center stage. For several years, wood has been the primary medium of his work. The ever-evolving experience of a sculpture during the creative process serves as fertile ground for new ideas for the artist. By manipulating, concealing or only partially representing his subjects, his sculptures often appear unfinished.

The artist embraces recognisability and figuration in his work, but he manipulates his subjects. By enlarging them, adding other elements, disguising them or rendering them unfinished. He’s inspired by his surroundings and photographic material, and subjects he finds by chance. He converts these impressions into sketches on paper or small models in clay or wax. Although the artist fixes a composition in advance, he then works intuitively and allows coincidence to play its part. He gets to work with wood or clay. Using a chainsaw, chisels, rasps and sandpaper, he transforms tree trunks into wooden sculptures. Or he depicts his subjects by sculpting them out of clay and casting them afterwards. He plays with the individuality of these materials. For instance, a wooden sculpture sometimes shows characteristics of a clay model. The cast in bronze or plastic has the texture of a wood surface here and there. The tactility of the material and the combination of removing and building up substance are crucial to his experience during the process of making. With ‘before the last cut’, the artist refers to a crucial stage in the creation process of a (wooden) sculpture. The moment when he decides what he leaves unfinished.
He enhances this tension by combining meticulously worked-out details with a solid wooden block or hunk of clay. He contrasts rough, unworked surfaces with a smooth texture. His sculptures are thus three-dimensional captures of these moments through which he makes the viewer witness his creative process.

Maarten Ceulemans, Leuven 1983

Education

2005
Master in sculpture, PXL-MAD School of Arts, Hasselt

Exhibitions

2022
‘Darkness is needed to see the stars’, collective exhibition, LKFF Art Projects, Beersel, Belgium

2021
‘Presence’, group exhibition LKFF Art Projects, Beersel, Belgium

2021
‘Before the last cut’, catalogued solo exhibition, LKFF Art Projects, Beersel, Belgium

2019
Solo exhibition ‘Cultuurprijs Aarschot’, Stedelijk Museum, Aarschot, Belgium

2017
Group exhibition ‘GemlucArt’ with Martin Frias, Claudio Bocella, Yann-Eric Eichenberger, Bart Ramakers, Danny Tulkens, Joke Derycke and more, Monaco, France

2017
Group exhibition ‘Tarmax’ with Jef Gysen, Raymond Minnen, Marc Janssens and more, Meerhout, Belgium

2017

Group exhibition ‘Beaulieu 2017’ with Hans Vanderkerckhove, Tom Dekyvere, Ulrike Bolenz, Hans Bruyneel, Dany Tulkens, Ann van Hoey and more, Machelen, Belgium

2017
Group exhibition ‘You don’t need an app to experience the real thing – nothing can beat standing in front of the real thing’ with Ermias Kifleyesus, Nils Verkaeren, Jonas Vansteenkiste, Caroline Van de Eynden and more, Kusseneers Gallery, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Belgium

2016
Group exhibition with Marc Cruysberghs and Luca Aussems, Gallery ParisTexas, Antwerp, Belgium

2016
Duo exhibition with Henri Vandermoere, The Muelenaere & Lefevere gallery, Oostduinkerke, Belgium

2015
Group exhibition ‘Favorieten’ with Raymond Minnen, Marc janssens, Dirk Stoop and more, CC ’t Getouw, Mol, Belgium

2014
Group exhibition ‘Prijs Mark Macken voor beeldhouwkunst’, eervolle vermelding, Antwerp, Belgium

2014
Group exhibition ‘Invites’ with Marc Cruysberghs, Geert Koekoeckx, Lieve Smets and Griet Vanhumbeeck, TARMAC, Meerhout, Belgium

2013
Group exhibition ‘Kleinsculptuur en object’, CC het Spoor, Harelbeke, Belgium

2012
Group exhibition ‘Jong geweld, geweldig jong’ with Joke derycke, Robby Decorte,Sehwi Oh, Tinne Raymaeckers and Joris Vanpoucke, CC Het Gasthuis, Aarschot, Belgium

2010
Group exhibition ‘Fläming-Havel Art Project’, Kasteel Cortewalle , Beveren (BE) & Wiesenburg/Mark,, Germany

2009
Group exhibition ‘Furament’ with Jan De Groef, Tjerrie Verhellen and more, Tervuren, Belgium

2006
Group exhibition ‘Out of control goes wide’, Waregem & Ternat, Belgium

2006
Group exhibition ‘Jong en kunstminnend’, CC den Egger, Scherpenheuvel, Belgium

2005
Group exhibition ‘Out of control’, Etterbeek, Belgium