Wilfried Huet for Rinus Van de Velde

Rinus Van de Velde spread

Rinus Van de Velde

Rinus Van de Velde had, in his former life, a side-job as the driver of this other well-known Antwerp artist Guillame Bijl, who was then a/o professor of sculpture at the Art Academy in Münster (Germany).  It was an ideal job. During their long rides they talked about art and Rinus could see how Guillaume installed his work. After a while, Guillaume asked him to show his work and liked it. He introduced him to the First Floor Gallery where he was offered a solo within four weeks. Philippe Van Cauteren, artistic director of the Museum of Contemporary Art S.M.A.K. in Ghent (B) offered him solo show.. There I saw his work for the first time and was impressed. Ever since, for me his work and career moves on like rock and roll & every new step, I feel, is watched with eager enthusiasm.  -Wilfried Huet

his work and career moves on like rock and roll

Rinus Tennis star

RVDV01-0691: 230 CM X 340 CM, CHARCOAL ON CANVAS, 2012 SELF-PORTRAIT AS A TENNIS HERO, AN IMAGE THAT — AS MY COACH WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE — WOULDN’T BE FAR FROM THE TRUTH IF I WOULD HAVE BEGUN PLAYING EARLIER IN MY LIFE. SADLY, I DID NOT, FOR REASONS NOT QUITE CLEAR TO ME; BECAUSE NO-ONE REALLY PUSHED ME, BECAUSE THE IRONIC TIME AND PLACE I GREW UP IN WERE UNFRIENDLY TO MY AMBITIONS, BECAUSE I WAS TOO SENSITIVE AND INTELLIGENT TO LOSE MY MIND IN THE GAME, BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS TOO BUSY IMAGINING WHAT I COULD BECOME TO ACTUALLY BECOME SOMETHING ELSE THAN A MAN WHO HAS TURNED HIS FANTASIES INTO WHO HE REALLY, AND PROFESSIONALLY, IS. WHATEVER HAPPENED, MY BOYISH WISHES STILL LINGER ON IN MY NOT SO PRIVATE FANTASIES, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY STILL OFFER ME A SENSIBLE, ADULT WAY TO BECOME WHATEVER I WANT, IN MY STUDIO, FOR EXAMPLE, USING THE PROPS AVAILABLE, SUCH AS THE DIRTY MATTRESS I NEVER SLEEP ON.

Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery

wilfried wei wei

WILFRIED HUET is the creator of GAGARIN, a rare, limited circulation, artists’ magazine, begun in 2000. Based in Antwerp, Belgium, it features specially written pieces by artists from around the world in their original language, with an additional English translation. Each edition features eight artists from eight different countries. The development of every issue is organic and carefully thought out, bestowing each incarnation of GAGARIN with a precious and unique character. GAGARIN is published twice a year.

Wilfried and GAGARIN collaborated with Dream The End to feature GAGARIN pages online, learn more.

Nominator/Nominee