BUSTE KAREL MECHIELS

BUSTE KAREL MECHIELS (ALBERT TERSAGO)

MECHIELS Karel (1927 – 2017)

Painter, draughtsman, pastelist, aquarellist and etcher. Studied at the academy of Sint-Niklaas. Continued his studies after the war at the academy and the Higher Institute of Antwerp. Won several prizes: in 1949 the ‘Prize Laurent Meeus’; in 1951 the ‘Prize Burgemeester Camille Huysmans’; in 1952 the ‘2nd Prize of Rome painting’; in 1952-1953 the ‘Meesterschapsbeurs’ and the ‘Prize Hélène Goldmuntz’.

From 1955 till 1962 he was a teacher portrait and figure drawing at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Mechelen. Married the female artist Vera Neels. From 1962 till 1991 director of the Academy in Sint-Niklaas. With a completely new curriculum the Academy expands from 300 to 3000 pupils. In 1980 co-founder of the Art Society Kallipègè.

Paints, draughts and etches portraits, nudes, landscapes and still lives. He thoroughly delved into tradition. To him, mastering his art was of the utmost importance. His work reflects an authentic and honest quest for the possibilities of the plastic language. He thinks and sees in shapes and colours. Nature is his only source of inspiration. He wants to fathom reality and offer it a new existence. A statement of August Rodin in his testament (1911) is certainly applicable to Karel Mechiels : “art begins with internal reality”

TERSAGO Albert (1947-2019)

Sculptor. Training at the Higher Institute Sint-Lucas, Gent (1968-1971) and the Academy of Antwerp (1971-1973); at the Higher Institute in Antwerp, under the guidance of Mark Macken (1973-1974). Teacher sculpting and  decorative sculpture at the Academy of Sint-Niklaas (1975-1985). Government Inspector for fine arts (1985-2011).

Prize ‘Van Lerius’ for figure modelling. Laureate of the ‘Prize Rembrandt Bugatti’. ‘Prize Bank van Parijs en de Nederlanden’ for figure drawing.

For Albert Tersago, observation, both of visual and emotional reality, is of primary importance. Here, mankind in all its aspects, is an endless source of inspiration. In order to visualize his observations Tersago attaches great importance to metier. Throughout the years he delves into the secrets of the material in order to perfect his artistic skills.

A number of statues radiate the ideal of classical beauty. Others are rather modern, as strict reality makes way for simplification and stylization.

 

Kunst in de Stad, May 20th 1989