Et Alors? Magazine 20

happy to have the possibility to exhibit and enjoy the
fact that people are seeing what I’ve done. It’s also
very nice that after all this time of solitude, you get
to put your work out there. It can be very rewarding.
‘As an artist
you have to be
determined. And
be disciplined.
Without lapsing
into a regular
pattern. Because
then you stop
evolving.’
Do you see the world differently as an artist?
Probably. But I have difficulty saying so because to
me it sounds very pretentious. But there is indeed
a big difference between how I view the world and
how, for example, my parents are experiencing
it. Maybe that’s what they call ‘a trained eye’?
However, being a good artist is not only about how
you see the world. It’s not even solely about talent.
You also have to be determined. And be disciplined.
Without lapsing into a regular pattern. Because then
you stop evolving. An art collector once told me that
he kept on buying my work because he loved to see
how I was evolving. And how he always stops buying
pieces from artists who’ve become predictable.
That was one of the biggest compliments I’ve ever
gotten.
How important is acknowledgement?
Very. I don’t think I could be the kind of artist that
only creates without showing it to an audience. I’m
Is it important that people like your work?
I’m quite sensitive about it but it doesn’t guide me.
Otherwise I would still be doing what I did 5 years
ago. But I do feel good when people like my work.
When I’m in my studio I’m on such a different planet
that there’s not a thought in my mind about pleasing
my viewers. However, I find showing my work in a
gallery pretty stressful. You’ve given it your very best
and all of a sudden people have an opinion about
what you’ve been doing. It’s very confrontational
stepping from your studio into a place where all of a
sudden you’ve become someone with the intention
of doing business. I think the art world has evolved
in such a way that it’s necessary to step fully into the
process of both creating and presenting. And since
I’m very bad at the business side of things, I’m very
happy that I have a gallery that takes care of this.
When did you start calling yourself an artist?
I still don’t. It feels weird. I always say I’m a sculptor.
I think that covers it. This is a conversation I often
have with my students: it’s the difference between
being an artist and artistic practice. I don’t think it’s
the same thing. For me, being part of the art world
is called artistic practice, which doesn’t necessarily
mean that you are an artist. Obviously I want to be
part of that world, yet I don’t want to be swayed by
it. It’s not what makes you an artist.
I don’t often read about or hear you explain your
work. Why not?
I always feel that it doesn’t matter. That it isn’t
necessary. I find what people say or write about my
work more appealing. Although often surprising, I
find someone else’s interpretation very interesting
to think about, as opposed to when I talk about it
myself. I don’t have the feeling that me talking about
it adds any value. Maybe it’s because explaining
your work ends the conversation. I like people to
experience what they think and feel for themselves.
Art opens people’s minds. When I started at the
academy I found that it made me wiser, more
grounded. And going to a museum often has a very
big influence on the way I think. But this is what
it does to me personally. When it comes to other
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