Christian Vanwambeke

My initial training was technical (as an architectural assistant), and artistic (Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Tourcoing). I very early took on drawing and the art of composition. During my studies, my sense of observation and my care for aesthetics first brought me to photography.

This experience led me to produce the « Architexture » exhibition in 1988 (Gallerie Impression, Lille). That form of expression still is a passion of mine.

As I was keener and keener to express myself into volumes, I decided to join Claire Leurent's modelling course in 2000. These sessions allowed me to start mastering terracota volumes, but to assess their limits as well.
My curiosity, very soon, led me to integrate elements that were alien to those volumes. I realised that it was time to move to other materials, and to go beyond the courses' framework. I first experienced with recovered wood (pallets, wooden crates, rope, cloth). I dismantle, I paint, I congregate by nailing or stapling, I give life to my first productions, and « surprise myself ».

Nature inspires me, matter, prints, traces, signs or graffiti are the seams from which I draw my inspiration, I need to feel the contact. « Primary Arts », « Raw art », and « Land Art » appeal to me... Don't they have a common relationship with the « sacred » ?

I keep searching, and my quest goes on with the use of new materials and colours which show an ever wider spectrum, echoing nature.

Searching, experiencing, doubting, surprising, surprising and astonishing myself are the acts and feelings that frame my approach, ever and ever.
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I held my first exhibition in 2006 with 15 other artists, during the Fashion week « Expo Tissé Métissé » at the Musée Jacquart in Roubaix.