Robbert Pauwels

My work consists of drawings and sculptures which contain references to classical architectural shapes and, at the same time, possess a sensual and intimate physicality. In a playful, intuitive and material-oriented way I research memories of teenage longings and early sexuality, with a sense of nostalgia. These teenage memories, together with stereotypes from pop culture (cartoons, novels and house music) are elements with which I start my work process. Whilst associating I translate these elements into works that express a personal naive romance. During the creating process the physical material is guiding. Shape, textures and colour are determining as I associate towards a final sculpture. In the sculpture ‘Psyche en Eros’, based on the novel by Louis Couperus, I played with architectural shapes, classical ornaments of my parental home and with layers of candle wax and pigments to create a skin. Parts of the styrofoam are dissolved by thinner, turning the sculptures into candy-like ruins, which expresses the nostalgia of the story. Subject matter, use of materials and colour and the often used hanging and dripping elements makes that my works possesses a sad cheerfulness.