“The Silence of Thought • Jean Paul BLAIS & Sean HENRY

«The Silence of Thought», an Exhibition of Sculpture Featuring Sean Henry & Jean Paul Blais.

In the historical setting of Beersel’s old townhouse, now a contemporary gallery space, «The Silence of Thought» unveils a sculptural pairing that unites the talents of renowned UK artist Sean Henry and Swiss artist Jean Paul Blais. The show opens on Sunday 17 March and will run until the 27th of April offering a unique visual dialogue between the realist and the abstract.

Sean Henry (UK, 1965), brings an innovative fusion of ceramics, painting and sculpture to this exhibition. His painted bronze figures are a revival of the polychrome sculpture tradition, ingrained with a very contemporary sensibility. Art historian Tom Flynn remarks «through vigorously expressive modelling and changes in scale Henry imbues his figures with a powerful psychological presence, the theme of life and death a constant subtext»

Sean Henry says “Visual art is by nature non-verbal, and I like the way that meanings and motivations within the artwork exist very much in the mind of the viewer. We don’t know who the figures are, and while they might seem familiar and – I hope – emotionally present, the ambiguity around their status is an important part of how and why we engage with them” 

Jean Paul Blais (Switzerland, 1951)’s career spanned from drawing and iron sculpture to painting; his evolution has led to the creation of abstract wooden wall reliefs, gently curved and most frequently shaded in black, embodying a depth of simplicity and elegance. Occasionally, he presents pieces in ivory white, offering a stark, reflective contrast. Blais’s works are a testament to the trusts in the eye’s vision and the trace of the hand, from which emerge forms that are simple yet profound. These forms, once translated into wood, sculpted, sanded, smoothed, and very patiently patinated, reveal themselves as serene bas-reliefs, evolving with each movement of light.

Both Henry’s and Blais’s artworks have been showcased extensively across Europe, the USA, Canada, and Asia.

«The Silence of Thought» offers an exploration of the silent but potent dialogue between the abstract meditative forms of Blais and the psychologically charged figures of Henry. The exhibition at LKFF in Beersel invites viewers to an experience of reflection, where art meets meditation in the stillness of its surroundings and where every sculpture is a story untold.