Van Den Driessche Jan

Jan Van Den Driessche is a Belgian artist who was born in 1954 in Geraardsbergen. He is a painter. Son of Lucien, grandson of René Van Den Driessche. Education Roman Philology. Self-taught in painting. Creates in his works a colorful world in which elements are incorporated that can refer at the same time to the circus and death, which testify to an unbridled imagination and provide a kind of overview of the human condition, of the fortunes we undergo during our presence here on earth , viewed through the eyes of an astute observer who does not shy away from the absurd. From the press: 'The paintings of J.V.D.D. are baroque scenes in which numerous allusions are indicated. Each scene is a set of motifs and presences that have to do with a dream as much as with a reality,' (H. Brutin, 1977) and 'The work of J.V.D.D. reflects society in a dance of death,' (J. De Geest, 1995) and finally: 'The great obsession, both in the life and in the work of J.V.D.D. is to find out the truth. This means that he is not bound by the appearance of the reality of people or things. On the contrary: he wants to tear away the disguise that hides the deeper realness of our environment. But he also wants to clothe the truth that he pursues in forms and garments that have a symbolic meaning: only then can it acquire a universal value.' (W. Toebosch) Laureate of the Kulturama Prize in Haagt in 1986, Prix Médiatine in Sint -Woluwe Lambert in 1986, laureate of the Anto Diez Prize in Bredene in 1987, of the André Toetenel Prize in 1989, of the Eugène Van Mieghem Prize in Antwerp in 1987, second prize for painting at Art'Alès in Alès/France in 1997, second laureate of the Prize of the City of Poperinge in 1998. Settled in the South of France. Bibliography: Jan Van Den Driessche (Kunstpocket, Schelderode, 1992), Jan Van De Driessche (A. Carré, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, 1999). Mentioned in BAS II and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (piron)