Van Breedam Camiel

Camiel Van Breedam (Boom 1936) · Assemblage artist, sculptor, designer of objects and cabinet assemblages, musician. Trained at the Normal School in Ghent under O. Landuyt (1955–1957). Received an honorable mention at the Prize for Young Belgian Painting in 1956 for six reliefs. Became a member of G58-Hessenhuis. In the 1960s, brightly colored assemblages and objects emerged, among other works. Contributed to the magazine Edda from 1963 onwards. Became a member of Mouvement Phases in 1964. That year also saw the creation of his first large assemblage: Altar to Combat Hypocrisy. Married the artist Annie Debie in 1966. His first metal sculptures were created in 1967. Works on both small formats (dioramas) and monumental projects (large environments). His works reveal both a poetic soul and a love for jazz music, serving at one moment as an indictment of the slaughter of Native Americans in North America, while at another they bear witness to rebellion against the destruction of nature. From the press: 'His bas-reliefs, his rare autonomous sculptures, his boxes provide vindication to discarded objects, the eroded ruins of our consumer society' and 'His assemblages illustrate his sensitivity regarding human aspirations and failures, dreams and aesthetic needs.' Works as a sculptor in Corten steel, among other materials. Works can be found in the Belgica metro station in Brussels, among other places. Major exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (PMMK) in Ostend in 1999–2000. Mentioned in BAS I and Two Centuries of Signatures of Belgian Artists. (Piron)