Johan Pas

PROLOGUE
The year 3073. A space crew from planet XXX sets foot on Luna, the uninhabited double planet of Terra. They find only one interesting trace of civilization: an anthropomorphic aluminum statuette 1.91 cm thick and 8.89 cm long, situated next to a metal plaque with illegible signs. After years of in-depth research, the object is identified as the Fallen Astronaut (1971) by the Flemish artist Paul Van Hoeydonck (01 925). This astonishing discovery prompts a new art-historical paradigm. Contrary to what has been claimed for centuries, the Flemish at the end of the twentieth century were not a people of painters but of sculptors.

The title of this OKV theme issue is based on the exhibition Made by sculptors . It took place exactly thirty years ago in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. At the time, this important exhibition offered a balance of the 'post-minimalist', 'post-conceptual' and 'anti-form' sculpture of the 1970s, in particular attempting to chart the groundbreaking aspects of three-dimensional art.

Not a single Belgian artist was represented. With the presence of international top artists such as Carl Andre, Richard Serra and Joseph Beuys, the exhibition made a great impression on the young Flemish artist Paul Gees (° 1949). Thirty years have passed since then and the art world has evolved fundamentally. Today sculpture is not what it was (then). Even more: is there still such a thing as sculpture today?

Apparently yes, because in September 2008 the Antwerp open air sculpture show took place on the damped zuiderdokken. This event was a collaboration between the Antwerp galleries, the Muhka and the Middelheim Museum. Luc Deleu and his TOP office signed up for the set-up. The word 'sculpture' was prominent in the announcement, even without quotation marks.

Sculpture? Today??
Show images
Choosing artists
Exhibitions and themes
Epilogue