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
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