The Clown Spirit -Galerie De Rossaert, Nosestraat 7, Antwerp. 16 October – 27 December
Marie Jo Lafontaine Autoportrait en clown blanc
The Clown Spirit Curated by Joanna De Vos
From a playful imagination, a family history related to the circus, and close connections with contemporary artists, the desire erupted to bring the clown and the artist together in ‘The Clown Spirit’. Many artists have at least some affinity with the existence of the clown. The melancholic artist, the serious clown, the comical artist, the tragic clown, the idiotic artist, the subversive clown, the comforting artist, … They all have the gift to transcend life. To make their fellow humans see, feel, or think differently. The clown/artist gives tragic life a comical face, and vice versa. The artist/clown is a clone and a canvas of various symbols. In their own extremes, the artist/clown is both modest and elated. That contradiction forms the energy flowing through ‘The Clown Spirit’. ‘The Clown Spirit’ shows contemporary artworks at De Rossaert in Antwerp, a space owned by Ronny Van de Velde Gallery, between 16 October and 27 December 2020. The heartbeat of the exhibition is due to the especially created self-portraits of many artists.