Stephan Balkenhol

By Heinz-Norbert Jocks and Sven Lütticken

Almost everyone is fascinated by Stephan Balkenhol’s sculptures of men, women and animals. Yet the last major exhibition of Balkenhol’s work in our country took place eight years ago. Back then, the Witte de With in Rotterdam organised an extensive presentation of the German artist’s paintings. Since then, Balkenhol has been as quiet as ever in the Netherlands. The fact that the rest of the world thinks differently about this artist is evident from the long list of exhibitions of his work.

A year and a half ago, Balkenhol’s gallery in Amsterdam held a small exhibition of his work. In the exhibition space were two sculptures of a man and a woman on a tall, hand-crafted circular pedestal. Both had been roughly carved from the same tree trunk. The man and woman wore nondescript clothes that Balkenhol had painted in solid colours. They looked almost lifelike, except for their gazes fixed on an invisible horizon.

Language: Dutch/German

Published by © 2001 Fries Museum, Leeuwarden

ISBN 90-72304-10-1