JOHAN GELPER

 Press release

For its third exhibition, Sébastien Ricou Gallery is pleased to present Johan Gelper.

Johan Gelper’s constructions express a fascination with nature, the biomorphic and the movement of growth processes, but also with human nature, movement and physical sensibilities.

Gelper uses discarded materials from everyday life. These found materials are incorporated into demountable sculptures and convertible installations. His Practice mainly consists of in situ installations, often combined with sculptures and drawings in interaction with their surroundings. In his studio, existing pieces are recycled to make new sets of sculptures, combining them again with found objects from everyday life. Prepared pieces can become found objects, or the other way around. Found objects become incorporated into demountable sculptures and convertible, site- specific installations. Sculptures are reassembled and fitted into the surrounding space. By working in sequence, each work originates from other works combined with observations and reflections on their environment. The process of abstract, scientific construction is also part of the work. His intention is to study the ambiguity of handmade objects on the basis of both natural and manufactured elements. Gelper also uses drawing as a means of research on lines and constructions that can often become transformed into the three dimensional. Whether the presentation of his work is a drawing, a sculpture or an installation, each piece originates through other works and the observation of and reflections on their surroundings.

Winner of the 2007 and 2008 Prize Young Artists (S.M.A.K, Ghent), Johan Gelper was born in 1980 in Kapellen. He lives and works in Ghent.

His work has been shown at numerous solo and group exhibitions in Belgium: at the S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art (Ghent), at the Galerie EL (Welle), at Croxhapox (Ghent), at the Ghent University Botanical Garden and at the Galerie Marion Cannière (Antwerp).

His work also features in collections such as the S.M.A.K Museum of Contemporary Art (Ghent) and the Province of East Flanders.