www.johantahon.be
Johan Tahon's first exhibition, A une heure du matin, was held in 1994 in the old factory building in Oudenaarde where his studio had been housed for some time. Well-known Belgian art critic and curator Jan Hoet's support for Tahon signified a breakthrough, starting with the exhibition De Rode Poort in the Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst in Ghent. Tahon's work is included in collections including those of the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (SMAK) in Ghent, the Muhka museum in Antwerp, the Stedelijk Museum of Amsterdam, the GEM in The Hague, the Beelden aan Zee museum in Scheveningen, The Netherlands and the Museum an Dom in Würzburg, Germany.
For Tahon, making works of art means recording an extremely individual quest for man and his desires, but also the representation of the irrevocable loneliness of human existence. Tahon carries out the subjective investigation that underlies his traditional sculpture in his studio in Oudenaarde, Flanders.
The self occupies an important position in Tahon's work. The starting point in his sculpture is the human figure, a subject in which the quest for spirituality and the divine is also a major concern. In a conversation that Tahon once had with Bart de Baere he spoke of the ‘light' that drives him, the light that dictates the most important path you can follow as a human being ( Fragmenten; Johan Tahon-Bart de Baere , 1997). Over the past year in particular he has been inspired by Islamic art and Sufism. In Turkey, where Tahon has the use of a studio in Iznik, he is examining the centuries-old technique of the Ottoman quartz ceramics.
Tahon's sculptures can be recognized as human figures. In his search for the right shape he sometimes lets go entirely of the human anatomy, but he deliberately does not continue right through to full abstraction. He wants the glimmer of figuration that remains in the human sculptures to be a point of recognition for the observer. By holding a mirror up to people he expects the observer to identify better with the sculptures. Tahon sees figuration as a bridge between the sculpture and the underlying concept. Pure abstraction would keep the sculptures too close to the artist.
Tahon worked initially mainly in plaster; he preferred this material for its whiteness and its fragility. He used plaster to create a number of extremely tall sculptures that moved forwards along the ceiling of the studio. Looking for a place ‘to be' is illustrative of Tahon's sculpture. Working in plaster also makes it possible to subject the sculptures to a process of formation and deformation; a work is constructed and then broken down, sculpture being a snapshot for Tahon.
During the past year in particular, Tahon has concentrated more on ceramics. He worked in Belgium on a series of human figures whose concept and charisma form a unity with his earlier work in plaster. White also returns in the ceramic work; these sculptures often have a glossy white glaze. In Iznik, Tahon experimented more with the shape of traditional objects such as dishes and plates, with colourful glazed images. |
1965 Born in Menen, Belgium
Lives and works in Oudenaarde, Belgium
Sculpture, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Gent
exhibitions
2012
Mais l'aile ne fait pas l'oiseau, Villa de Olmen, Wieze
Johan Tahon, GALERiArtist, Istanbul (solo)
Aangeraakt/Touché - Cordonnier, Wetteren
QNX, a place for rituals, Bruges
2011
Orientations, Akbank, Istanbul
Archè, Archeologisch Museum (Tiled Kiosk), Istanbul
Waq Waq, Galeri Artist, Berlin
Allemensen! Het Mooiste uit de Collectie Beelden aan Zee, Museum Beelden aan Zee, Den Haag
Zeerotica, Nationaal Visserijmuseum, Oostduinkerke
Blickachsen, Bad Homburg Kurpark, Bad Homburg
Atelier Vera Vermeersch, Stadhuis, Oudenaarde
Untitled, Galerie Van de Weghe, Antwerp
Sympathy for the Devil , Vanhaerents Art Collection, Brussels
When the Circus Leaves Town (Berlinaire), Gent
Battle, Power & Faith , Museum van Anatolische Beschavingen, Ankara
Lichtfestival Gent , S.M.A.K., Gent
2010
Waq Waq, Galerie Van De Weghe, Antwerp (solo)
Milkwood, Galerie Maurits van de Laar, Den Haag (solo)
Johan Tahon - The Liminal Act , de Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam
Der Traum des Bildhauers, Gerhard Marcks Haus, Bremen (solo)
Hemisphere, Haghia Erene/Topkapi Palace, Istanbul (solo)
NY Lamb, Envoy Gallery, New York (solo)
Confinium, Kunstverein Schwerte, Schwerte (solo)
Magic: sculpture, Tegenboschvanvreden, Amsterdam
Mediaan, CBS, Heerlen (commissioned project)
Rode reuzen en witte dwergen, SCHUNCK-Het Glaspaleis, Heerlen
Arche, Katholieke Hogeschool, Kortrijk (commissioned project)
Nicaea Starmap, Galeri Artist, Ankara
Perseus / Perseiden, C-Mine site, Winterslag, Genk (commissioned project)
Engel - Himmlische Boten und Begleiter, Museum am Dom, Würzburg
Mooi, over de kwetsbare schoonheid, Rasa, different locations in Belgium
2009
Johan Tahon/Martin Assig, CIAP, Hasselt (solo)
Gods and Men, Galeri Artist, Ankara (solo)
Rode reuzen en Witte dwergen, SCHUNCK-Het Glaspaleis, Heerlen (solo)
The Transhuman Face, Galerie Van De Weghe, Antwerpen (solo)
Mediaan, CBS, Heerlen, Nederland (solo)
Nicaea Starmap , Galeri Artist, Ankara (solo)
New Seismo, Galerie Maurits van de Laar, Den Haag, Nederland (solo)
Change of the Century, Centrum Kunstlicht in de Kunst, Eindhoven
Oisterwijk Sculptuur, Oisterwijk, Nederland
WATOU 2009, Watou
XXste EEUW, Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag
Backyard, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, Diepenheim
Hellwach gegenwärtig, Sammlung MARTa, Herford
2008
Salt White Apollo, Galeri Artist, Berlin (solo)
In der Welt sein, Galerie Het Zwart Huis, Knokke (solo)
White Heat, Galerie Maurits Van de Laar, Den Haag (solo)
Leoniden 8, Kasteel Ter Dolen, Helchteren, België; Kasteel Egmont, Zottegem (solo)
Against Nature. The hybrid forms of modern European sculpture, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds; Gerhard Marcks Haus, Bremen; Museum Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen
Hedendaagse grafiek, Galerie Van De Weghe, Wortegem
THE HANDS OF ART, Artists hands, (with Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, Andy Warhol, Bruce Nauman, et al., collection Ronny Van de Velde, SMAK, Gent ; MARTa, Herford
The IKOB Collection, with Jan Van Imshoot, Lilli Dujourie, Guillaume Bijl, Bert De Beul, et al., IKOB, Eupen
Big Bang. Whirling Atrium & Observatory (1999-2008), Atrium, Town Hall, The Hague (solo)
Land, Men and Gods, Galeri Artist, Istanbul (solo)
2007
Ineffabile, Dominicanenkerk, Knokke-Heist (solo)
Nicaea starmap, Galeri Artist, Istanbul (solo)
Nicaea Experiment, Galerie Gabriël Van De Weghe, Wortegem (solo)
Thomas Lange - Johan Tahon, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem (solo)
Portrait, Johan Tahon – Ronny Delrue, Internationales Kunstzentrum Ostbelgien (IKOB), Eupen (solo)
The IKOB Collection, Bozar, Brussels
Paulo Post Futurum, Breda's Museum, Breda
2006
OCULI / Mandarine and Mandragora, Gastresidentie in Kasteel Beauvoorde, Veurne (solo)
Johan Tahon. In Fluïdum, Museum Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen (solo)
Munken, Galerie Gabriël Van De Weghe, Wortegem (Cat.) (solo)
2005
Spheria, Stedelijk Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (solo)
Soul, Brugge
Sammlung MARTa - Eine Auswahl, MARTa, Herford
2004
Johan Tahon, Groeningemuseum, Brugge (solo)
Once upon a time… , MuHKA, Antwerp
Disorientation by Beauty, Lustwarande04, Tilburg
2003
Johan Tahon - 9, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem (solo)
Self-Self, Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (SMAK), Gent (solo)
Beaufort01, Oostende
Groupshow with original works by Johan Tahon and graphics by Hans Bellmer, Galerie Van De Weghe, Wortegem
2002
Johan Tahon te gast bij Constant Permeke, Permekemuseum, Jabbeke (solo)
2001
Silver/White Mindfield, Menen (Cat. ) (solo)
Stellar Octopus, Lokeren (solo)
Stellar Octopus-Simulacra (Time-Fetishes), Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem (solo)
Connecting Worlds – Contemporary Sculpture from the European Union Countries, Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington
Beaufort01, Oostende
Groupshow with original works by Johan Tahon and graphics by Hans Bellmer, Galerie Van De Weghe, Wortegem
2000
Traumgestalt, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem (solo)
Tideride-Mindfield, Vlaams Cultuurhuis De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam (solo)
Epifanie, Parkabdij, Heverlee
Honiton festival, Honiton
1999
In fluïdum, Stedelijk Museum Het Domein, Sittard (solo)
George Grard – Johan Tahon, Stichting George Grard, Gijverinckhove (Cat.) (solo)
Kosmoy, Kunstverein Schwerte (solo)
Halo-Set, Cultureel Centrum, Hasselt (solo)
Rillen en Rimae, C.I.A.P, Hasselt (solo)
S.M.A.K. De Opening, Gent
Real Time @ Zoersel '99, Zoersel
Louise Bourgeois / Anish Kapoor / Johan Tahon, Galerie Van De Weghe, Wortegem
Hedendaagse Vlaamse Beeldhouwkunst, Gordes
De Slang, Groeningemuseum, Brugge
Groupshow with original work by Johan Tahon, graphics by Louise Bourgeois, multiples by Anish Kapoor, Galerie Van De Weghe, Wortegem
Smak kracht, Witte zaal St. Lucas, Gent
Conscience en Ferraris Stills, Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Brussel (Cat.)
Zoersel 1999, Zoersel, (Cat.)
De watertoren, Vlissingen
Contemporary sculpture (Selectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap), Gordes
1998
Voor het verdwijnt en daarna (before it disappears and after that) - SMAK in Watou, Watou (Cat.)
E.V.+A, Saint Mary Church, Limerick
Rillen en Rimae, group show with original works by Johan Tahon and graphic of Alberto Giacometti and Luc Tuymans, Galerie Van De Weghe, Wortegem
1997
Zelf in Amorfia, Art box, Waregem (cat.) (solo)
Amor-spheroid, Galerie S. & H. De Buck, Gent (solo)
Kore-figur, Atelier Olsene, (Crystalline) nachtatelier, Olsene (publicatie In fluïdum) (solo)
Graaf de Ferraris gebouw (Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap), Brussels (Cat.)
1996
De Rode Poort (The Red Gate), SMAK, Gent
1995
Ateliertentoonstelling Universus, Oudenaarde (solo)
Arnulf Rainer; Johan Tahon, Link galerie, The Hague
1994
Ateliertentoonstelling A une heure du matin, Oudenaarde (solo)
Commissions
New Seismo, Ministry of Finance, The Hague - 2009
Design 12 bronze sculpture as award for Flanders Cultureprize - 2008
Sterrenberg (Atari), Zorgcentrum Bergh, Roermond - 2008
Design 12 bronze sculpture as award for Flanders Cultureprize - 2007
Natal, Marktplein Menen - 2004
H, Museum am Dom, Wurzburg - 2002
Universus (V.M.Z.), Marktplein Oudenaarde - 1998
Dirty Snowball , Stichting George Grard, Gijverinkhove - 1997
__ , Conference Centre Montil, Essene - 1996
Public Collections
Bouwfonds Art Collection, Hoevelaken
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague
Achmea art collection, Zeist
Internationales Kunstzentrum Ostbelgien( IKOB), Eupen
Collection van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Brussels
Collection Zorgcentrum Mesen, Mesen
Collection Toerisme Vlaanderen
Collection Interpolis, Tilburg
Museum Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen
Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst und Design (MARTa), Herford (DE)
Kunstmuseum aan Zee, Oostende
Provincie West-Vlaanderen
Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen, Gent
Museum Constant Permeke, Jabbeke
Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst (MuHKA), Antwerp
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Stedelijk Museum Het Domein, Sittard
Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.), Gent
Universitair Hospitaal Antwerp
Van Haerentscollectie, Brussels
Art Fairs
Solo Basel (2010), Galerie Van De Weghe, Antwerp
Arte Santander (2009), Galerie Van De Weghe, Antwerp, Santander
Scope Basel (2009), Solopresentation, at Gallery Maurits Van de Laar, Basel
Art Brussels (2009), galerie Zwart Huis, Knokke, Brussels
Art Amsterdam (2008), duopresentation with Martin Assig, Galerie Maurits van de Laar, Amsterdam
Arco, Soloshow (2003), Deweer Gallery, Madrid
Art Cologne (2006), Atelier, Deweer Art Gallery, Cologne
Literature
Wim Van Mulders, Paul De Pondt, Peter Verhelst, in: Observatorium, Ludion, Antwerp, 2008
Françis Smets, Leoniden 8, Kasteel Ter Dolen, Helchteren, 2008
Jan Teeuwisse, Dieter Roelstraete, Peter Verhelst, Philippe Van Cauteren en Isabelle De Baets, in: IF/ Johan Tahon, Museum Beelden aan Zee, Nederland, Lannnoo nv, Tielt, 2006
Willy van den Bussche, in: Johan Tahon te gast bij Constant Permeke, Stichting Kunstboek, Oostkamp, 2002
Ann Demeester, Peter Verhelst, Elke Clompen, in: Johan Tahon, Stellar Octopus, Stad Lokeren, 2001
Isabelle De Baets, Stellar Octopus, Simulacra [Time – Fetishes], Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem, 2001
Eva Wittocx, Els Stubbe, in: Johan Tahon: Tideride-Mindfield, Amsterdam, Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond, 2000
Peter Verhelst, Revelations/Illumination/Visions, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem, 2000
Marie-Anne Gheeraert, Francine Grard-Van Mieghem, in: George Grard-Johan Tahon, Stichting Kunstboek, Oostkamp, 1999
Jan Hoet, In Fluïdum, Sila, 1998
Bart De Baere, Fragments, Johan Tahon in gesprek met Bart De Baere, Art Box, Waregem, 1997
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