Jan Fabre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Fabre
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Jan Fabre (center) in 2008
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| Born | 14 December 1958 Antwerp, Belgium
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Jan Fabre (born December 14, 1958) is a famous artist from Antwerp, Belgium. He is known for creating many different kinds of art. For over 40 years, he has made art for the theatre, written books, and created unique visual arts.
Contents
A "Consilience" Artist
Jan Fabre calls himself a "consilience artist." Consilience is the idea that knowledge from different subjects can be connected. For example, what we learn from studying insects can give us new ideas for art.
Fabre believes in mixing ideas from art, theatre, and science. He says this helps him see the world in new ways. This approach allows him to create fresh and interesting works in art, theatre, and writing.
Visual Art
Fabre has created a special world of art with his own symbols and ideas. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. There, he became fascinated by the world of insects after reading the work of scientist Jean-Henri Fabre.
Art with Beetle Shells
One of Fabre's most famous types of art uses the shiny, colorful wing-cases of jewel beetles. He uses these shells to create large mosaics. The beetle shells are strong and last a long time, just like his art is meant to.
Some examples of his beetle-shell art include:
- Heaven of Delight (2002): A ceiling in the Royal Palace of Brussels covered in beetle shells.
- Tribute to Belgian Congo (2010-2013): A series of art panels that explore Belgium's history.
- Tribute to Hieronymus Bosch in Congo (2011-2013): Another series of panels inspired by the famous painter Hieronymus Bosch.
Bic-Art and Early Work
Fabre became known for his "Bic-art," which are drawings made with blue ballpoint pens. In 1980, he locked himself in a white room for three days and nights. He drew on everything inside with blue Bic pens.
In his early years, he did performance art. In one performance, he drew with his own blood. He also started writing and directing plays for the stage.
Sculptures
Fabre also makes sculptures out of bronze. One famous sculpture is called The man who measures the clouds. Another is Searching for Utopia, which shows a giant turtle.
In the city of Leuven, Belgium, he created Totem. It is a giant beetle stuck on a 70-foot steel needle. This shows his love for insects in his art.
Theatre
Jan Fabre changed theatre by introducing "real-time performance." This means that what happens on stage feels like it's happening in real life, right now.
In 1982, his play This is theatre as was to be expected and foreseen surprised audiences. Two years later, his play The Power of Theatrical Madness was shown at the famous Venice Biennale. In 1986, he started his own theatre company called Troubleyn/Jan Fabre.
Long Performances
Fabre is famous for his very long plays.
- Mount Olympus (2015): This is a 24-hour performance about Greek myths. It was a huge event with 27 actors on stage for a full day and night.
- Peak Mytikas (2023): This is an 8-hour play that continues his exploration of Greek stories.
The Night Writer
Since 2016, his play The Night Writer has been performed in many countries. The play is based on Fabre's own diaries. In each country, a famous actor performs it in their own language. It is one of his most celebrated works.
Workplace Disagreements
In 2018, some former members of Fabre's theatre company said he treated them poorly. These claims led to a court case in Belgium in 2022. The court found that he had broken rules about how workers should be treated. Fabre did not appeal the decision. Many other people who worked with Fabre have spoken out in his support.
Selected Exhibitions
Fabre's art has been shown in museums all over the world.
- The Angel of Metamorphosis, Louvre Museum (2008)
- Stigmata. Actions & Performances 1976–2013, M HKA, Antwerp (2015)
- Spiritual Guards, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence (2016)
- Knight of Despair / Warrior of Beauty, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (2016)
- Glass and Bone Sculptures 1977 – 2017, L’Abbazia di San Gregorio, Venice (2017)
- My Queens, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels (2018)
- Ma nation: l’imagination, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul-de-Vence (2018)
Selected Theatre Productions
- It is Theatre as to be Expected and Foreseen (1982)
- The power of theatrical madness (1984)
- As long as the world needs a warrior’s soul (2000)
- Je suis Sang (conte de fées médiéval) (2001)
- History of Tears (2005)
- Requiem für eine Metamorphose (2007)
- ... of Tolerance (2009)
- Mount Olympus. To Glorify the Cult of Tragedy. A 24-hour performance. (2015)
- The Night Writer (2019-2021)
- Peak Mytikas (On the top of Mount Olympus) An 8-Hour Performance (2023)
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See also
In Spanish: Jan Fabre para niños
