Figurative Sculpture and the Weight of Being
Human / Stone / Existence was a major international group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture in Brussels, bringing together six sculptors whose work engages with the human figure as a site of philosophical inquiry. Damian Arkeveld was one of three artists invited to create new work specifically for the exhibition.
The Concept
Curated by Dr. Helena Vandermeer, the exhibition proposed that figurative sculpture occupies a unique position in contemporary art: it is simultaneously one of the oldest art forms and one of the most radical, offering a physical encounter with human presence that no screen-based or conceptual practice can replicate.
The exhibition title — Human / Stone / Existence — framed three terms as a sequence: the subject, the medium, and the question. What does it mean to translate human existence into stone? What is preserved, and what is inevitably lost?
Arkeveld's Contribution
Arkeveld presented five works in the exhibition's central gallery, four existing pieces alongside one new commission:
Dialogue (Bath Stone, 2022) — Two facing figures separated by a narrow void, carved from a single split block. The work anchored the gallery, establishing the exhibition's core theme of connection and separation.
Eternal Fragment (Bianco Carrara Marble, 2024) — A fractured torso that references classical sculpture while acknowledging the impossibility of wholeness. The broken edges were left raw, contrasting with the polished skin surface.
Silent Witness (Portland Stone, 2023) — A head with closed eyes, tilted slightly, as if listening. This intimate work was positioned at eye level, creating an uncanny encounter for viewers.
Contemplation (Purbeck Limestone, 2023) — A seated figure reduced to essential planes. Abstract enough to be universal, specific enough to suggest a particular moment of inner attention.
Memoria (Portuguese Pink Marble, 2024) — The new commission. A monumental head, nearly 1.5 metres tall, carved from a rare block of Rosa Aurora marble. The warm pink stone gives the face an almost living quality, particularly in the warm lighting designed by the museum's team.
The Other Artists
Arkeveld's work was shown alongside pieces by:
- Jaume Plensa (Spain) — translucent resin heads
- Antony Gormley (UK) — cast iron body forms
- Kiki Smith (USA) — bronze figures
- Berlinde De Bruyckere (Belgium) — wax and epoxy forms
- Sui Jianguo (China) — carved stone figures
The juxtaposition of Arkeveld's hand-carved stone works with these diverse material approaches underscored the enduring power and particular qualities of carved stone.
Catalogue
The exhibition catalogue includes a major essay by Dr. Vandermeer, individual artist interviews, and studio photography. Arkeveld's interview discusses the physicality of stone carving as a form of knowledge that cannot be reduced to concept alone.
Dates: 1 November 2023 – 30 April 2024 Venue: Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, Rue de la Régence, Brussels Curator: Dr. Helena Vandermeer Supported by: Flemish Ministry of Culture, European Cultural Foundation