Guido Geelen (1961)
When Guido Geelen completed his art studies, he made a deliberate decision to not start out by working in bronze or stone. He first wanted to make his own sculptures outside of existing conventions, and chose clay, a material more associated with pottery than contemporary art. 'I'm very close to my work; I take fascination in ordinary things. Of course I transform or sublimate in my work, but I take my inspiration from everyday life. That can be anything: things that I notice passing by, music, memories... You might say I convert my experience into my material.'*
Since then, Geelen has moved on to working in bronze and aluminium, but still approaches all his subjects in an unorthodox way, an approach that earned him the Heineken Prize in 2000. Whether it's a bunch of dahlias cast in aluminium, a 'modular statue' constructed of individual elements or a commissioned work, Geelen always couples craftsmanship with dedication and tradition with precision. His Monument tegen zinloos geweld ('Monument against senseless violence') was unveiled on May 5, 2006 in Tilburg; a bronze chest of drawers with the top drawer open. From sunrise to sunset, visitors can leave a recollection or memento in the drawer. The photos, letters and flowers are then given a place in the sculpture itself, behind a pane of glass at the top.
* V. Klaassen, ‘Guido Geelen: kunst tilt je op uit het aardse bestaan’, unlocked # 02 rabo kunstcollectie, Eindhoven 2005, p. 140
