JOHANNA EN MARGARETHA VAN CONSTANTINOPEL 1217

JOHANNA AND MARGARETHA OF CONSTANTINOPLE 1217 ( FRANS) HEIRBAUT

On the same promenade of the Grand Place, our attention is caught by a sculpture group with two skeletons. They evoke mixed feelings in the viewer. On closer inspection, this is a complex, daring work of art.

On the occasion of the celebration of 800 years of Saint-Nicolas, Art in the City commissioned Frans Heirbaut to immortalize the founding Countesses on the Grote Markt of Saint-Nicolas, an idea launched years ago by the city's emancipation council.

Johanna of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders and Hainaut, was asked to establish a new parish in 1217. In 1241 she makes Sint-Niklaas the administrative center of the Land of Waas. Her sister, Countess Margaret, made a donation of land including this large market square.

The noble ladies are depicted as skeletons by Frans Heirbaut. It is a deliberate choice by which he presents medieval motifs and moralizing themes such as the mortality of man, death which is always very near (memento mori). With their elegant posture and gestures, the Countesses seem to be performing the Dance of Death (danse macabre).

The motif of vanity (vanitas) is expressed in the central mirror. The countesses are taking a selfie. This gives the sculpture group a universal character that connects past and present.

In 2017, this special realisation will be awarded the Culture Prize of the City of Sint-Niklaas

 

HEIRBAUT Frans (1948)

Frans Heirbaut

Zwaanaardestraat 153

9112 Sinaai

°08-12-1948

Frans.heirbaut@telenet.be

03/772.44.90

0496/05.14.91

 

Studies

Degree Higher Art Education Sculpture - 1974 - Sint-Niklaas

Degree Higher Art Education Drawing – 1975 - Sint-Niklaas

Certificate Secondary Arts Education Free Graphics – 1979 - Sint-Niklaas

 

Pro Venezia Viva Venezia Italia 1979  Course aiming at the conservation of architectural heritage in the European Centre for Craftsmen.

Restauration techniques.

 

Professional activities

Workshop of his father Gisleen Heirbaut till 1975

Restoration company Vlaeminck Lokeren 1975-1979

Diverse restorations of sculpture:

Cathedral Antwerpen, Abbey church Grimbergen, cemetery of Laken and similar

Teacher Stone-Sculpture: Academy Sint-Niklaas, Academy Antwerpen

Higher Education Institution Antwerpen

Specialization: shape research – rotation technique – profile technology

 

Exhibitions

Individual exhibitions at home and abroad.

Project Jan Hoet in collaboration with Warp-Sint-Niklaas azobé-wood

Exhibitions Zwarte Panter-Antwerpen 2009 and 2011

Member of the Koninklijke Wase Kunstkring

Member of the Koninklijke Kunstkring Lucasgezellen

Laureate Prize Recognition of the Achievement Ernest Albert-Beeldhouwkunst-Mechelen 2008

Home base -1999 together with his father Gisleen Heirbaut

Tongeren-De negende maand-2009

 

Sculptures in Public Ownership

Assignment from the Ministery Nederlandse Cultuur-Monument Pater Frans Vandevelde-Landtskouter-stone of Balegem.

Group of sculptures-Sport en Cultureel centrum-Belsele-plaster

Shepherd-Sinaai-bronze-Initiative of the Festive and Sports committee De Zwaan and Kunst in de Stad Vzw.

Nativity scene -Sint-Niklaas-Wood/lime

Fisher-Recreational park De Ster-Sint-Niklaas-Artificial stone

Vlaamse Opera Gent-Bust Vina Bovy-Carrara marble

Bust Louis Paul Boon-Sint-Niklaas-Bronze

Bust senator Pros Matthijs-City Hall Sint-Niklaas-Kunst in de Stad Vzw

In de wolken-two children, two brothers, climb into the clouds-bronze-Kunst in de Stad Vzw-Nieuwkerken

Project Theater Zuidpool-Antwerpen, stage adaptation ‘Lucifer’ Vondel stageing Jan and Sofie Decleir and Koen Kaam. Realisation of several puppets.

2011 Culture prize of the city Sint-Niklaas

Bas relief : Schip Repair Workers-Antwerpen

Statue: City Guide Georges Van Cauwenbergh-Antwerpen

Statue: Fred Bervoets-Town Hall Zwijndrecht

2017 Johanna and Margaretha Van Constantinopel-800 years Sint-Niklaas-Grote Markt Sint-Niklaas-Kunst in de Stad Vzw

Welfare Center ’t Lammeken-Lamstraat Sint-Niklaas ‘Het Lammeken’

 

Kunst in de Stad, October 21th 2017