Johan Creten - 8 Gods

About

The title 8 Gods stems from his new series of sculptures, created specifically for this exhibition. 8 Gods will be shown simultaneously with one of Creten’s most important monographic exhibitions to date, "La Traversée", currently running at CRAC Languedoc Roussillon in Sète, France until April 17th, 2017.

Since the late 1980s, Creten has proven to be a true trailblazer in the resurgence of ceramics and the use of traditional techniques in the contemporary art world. This is demonstrated in the series “Wargames" which will be shown during the exhibition. Straddling the border between painting and sculpture, the “Wargames" began in 2013, following his "Alfred Paintings" executed during a residency at Alfred University, New York. They bring together melted glass and elements in sculpted clay, which once fired and glazed take on the radiant golden texture of a bee’s nest. A group of more architectural and figurative works will be installed in the main room. The space will be punctuated by three imposing black columns, entitled “Massu", cast in bronze. Both stable and dynamic, these pillars shoot upwards in a burst of vital energy. Among these monumental architectural elements will be placed the "8 Gods", new figurative sculptures on coloured pedestals in glazed ceramics. Completed over the past two years at Struktuur 68 in The Hague, these masculine and feminine characters come together in a lively yet silent council; partially or totally veiled, their postures recall antique sculptures or sacred figures. The viewer will also be invited to take a seat on one of the coloured “Points d’observation”, in order to view the exhibition and interact with the surrounding muses.