Inspired by the works of artist Dang Quy Khoa, along with his passion for learning about the animal world, Belgian artist Sébastien brings an idea of an ideal space for animals, where they are not restrained or imprisoned.
Sébastien Durante has been passionate about learning about animals since he was a child.
Sharing about this exhibition, Sébastien hopes that animals will dominate the living space. He personalizes the images of animals and everyday pets into powerful symbols, equal to humans.
Familiar images and colors in Vietnamese life are shown through cups, beer cans, kumquat pots, sidewalk tables and chairs, in a peaceful and gentle countryside setting. The breath of Vietnam becomes even clearer when the male artist himself made a bamboo frame symbolizing a doorless room, decorated with small tea tables and chairs covered with ceramic on top. Along with that, bamboo branches are arranged around to create a close-up village space.
A combination of small details in Vietnamese life and the breath of the South of France.
Create a room without a door, just small bamboo branches arranged around it.
Dragon is a gateway
Sharing the reason for choosing dragons as the main subject in his artistic creation, Sébastien said: "Dragons are a gateway, but cannot summarize the entire exhibition. Since I was young, I was lucky to travel a lot and started to be interested in all cultures as well as many different animals. In my childhood, I loved monsters, gargoyles, but I was also scared when drawing them. I love mythology and dinosaurs. However, my interest in art was only aroused by the diversity of dragons from different continents."
The dragons are "personified" by the male artist in diverse colors, on ceramic backgrounds fired at Bat Trang Pottery Village, Hanoi.
In this exhibition, behind the dragon is the idea of chimera and includes other animals. The artist also shared: "For me, the dragon symbolizes nature. Instead of talking about another myth like Noah's Ark, the dragon seems more impressive to me. This exhibition is a discourse about animals in general, a project working in Asia and especially in Vietnam and the symbol of this country: all these elements made me realize that this created an interesting moment for me to immerse myself in the different universes that dragons belong to".
"I worked in Hanoi in 2018 during my first visit. I was able to develop this thought about the Silk Road, from which I saw a parallel with the European dragon, the devil during the Christian era. It is a rich mythological and philosophical perspective. The dragon today, in this shelter, this hut, this “dragon house”, I give it a little rest, a place to meet and share. I think that my exhibition is the first “dragon shelter” in the world" - Sébastien concludes.
The image of the dragon becomes more unique in this work when drinking beer and singing karaoke together.
The exhibition A Dragon's home is the world's first “dragon shelter”.
“A dog house is not a cage, but it is not a home either.”
The title comes from a reflection on the question of animal habitat. Habitat is a way of socializing an animal, making them integrate into human life. "I feel sad, or even barbaric, when I see animals in captivity. When locked in cages, the living conditions of animals become extremely harsh. I believe that "improvements" to let animals live freely are completely possible, even though this may sound "very European". It is from my love for animals that I have the desire to raise this awareness", the Belgian artist shared.
In the exhibition, the audience noticed the pets appearing in a state of playfulness, sitting comfortably on the background of typical square tiles. This image also has the author's artistic intention: to create an imaginary crib. Sharing about this image, Sébastien said: "The crib, unlike the cage, has a more ambiguous status: it is the animal's property, but it is excluded from the human living space. The domesticated animal is separated from the family, even though it lives in the family".
Some pictures in the exhibition:
A dog house is neither a kennel nor a home.
An audience member enjoys the screenplay.
The artist is chatting with the audience about his works.
Young audiences were impressed with the art installation in the exhibition.
Audience came to see the exhibition.
The audience chatted about the exhibition.
About the artist Sébastien Durante:
Sébastien Duranté is a visual artist based in Brussels, Belgium. Sébastien’s work is made with a multitude of materials, combining existing artworks with everyday objects, artistic references and everyday objects. Trained at the École Supérieure des Beaux Arts Montpellier, he sees his practice as a field of research and experimentation with different techniques.
Sébastien studied traditional casting techniques in Hanoi in 2018. Sébastien draws inspiration from the cultures he has witnessed and experienced during his travels, personalizing the artworks he creates. Thanks to his investment in education, Sébastien has acquired a solid technical foundation that allows him to freely work with a variety of materials such as bronze, marble and even plastic to recreate "art", such as antiques and public sculptures that have great significance to the public.
