The VEGAS Gallery in London Shows Booke de Vries Phoenix-Like Art

Written by Anton Weismuller Saturday, 21 May 2011 21:59

London.- The VEGAS Gallery is delighted to present "Fire, Works" Bouke de Vries first solo show with the gallery, showcasing new works in which De Vries continues to examine the contradictions surrounds the perception of perfection. "Fire, Works" is on view until July 2nd. Created deliberately in extreme fire conditions, the most traumatic event in the history of these objects is taken as a new starting point for the exhibition and instead of it causing them to be discarded, it triggers a new chapter in their story as, phoenix-like, they rise transformed to live again.

Creating new sculptures from the broken remains of ceramic vessels and figurines, the artist  began his career as a restorer of ceramics. While studying at conservation college, De Vries was asked to assist in sorting through crates and crates of the fire-damaged remains of the important ceramics collection at Uppark House in West Sussex, a National Trust property, still partly occupied by the Meade-Fetherstonhaugh family. A devastating fire in the 1980s destroyed the very important collection of ceramics that was housed on the first floor. The intense heat had caused the ceramics to distort, the glaze to burn and most of the original decoration to be burnt off, leaving behind a ghost of its past glory.


Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Bouke de Vries has started his design education in Eindhoven followed by a degree at Central St Martins. De Vries has worked with John Galliano, Stephen Jones and Zandra Rhodes and has developed his skills further while training in ceramics conservation and restoration that led to the realisation of his creative potential and extended his artistic practice. Recent exhibitions include “Pieces” (solo) Super Window Project, Kyoto 2010 , Deconstructions (Double-solo) Ron Mandos Gallery, Amsterdam, 2010,  ‘Questions of belonging’ MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) 2010, ‘Contemporary eye: Crossovers’ Pallant house Gallery, Chichester, 2010, ‘Vanitas' All Visual Arts, London 2010 and ‘Emerging artists - Flora Fairbarn Productions’ Selfridges, London, 2009.

VEGAS has recently relocated to a newly purpose-built space at 274 Poyser Street, London. VEGAS Gallery, originally a project space created in 2007, is a contemporary art gallery situated in the heart of East London that showcases current works by international artists. Given the histories of the gallery’s initiators, the programme has been strongly oriented toward the promotion of Dutch, Norwegian and Swiss artists’ work through specific projects. However, since its evolution into a representing gallery, VEGAS now focuses on solo presentations and represents a roster of International artists and collaborates with foreign galleries to present a considered platform. The Gallery is endorsed by MINIVEGAS, a multimedia Collective of Animation and Live Action directors, operating successfully within the media and advertising industry. Visit the gallery's website at ... http://www.vegasgallery.co.uk

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