Frans van Straaten (1963) should be called an artist of balance always searching for harmony between force and movement in combination with space. Because of the wide range in his art-education he has mastered the art of drawing, painting and sculpting technology. However, the classical plastic art of sculpture and modelling opens up the possibility for him to create his own language of sculpture in answer to his urge for art.
Due to this style of sculpting, the preference for bronze is natural. After his study of sculpture at the Academy of Art in Rotterdam (1988), Frans van Straaten creates bronze sculptures in which he unites force and movement.
Feeling and Emotion converted into Matter
Sculpture is an experience of space combined with the challenge of the three-dimensional. The tension of space and movement are the themes, which Frans expresses in his sculptures. Summary it can be said that the power of life and being, the feeling and emotion by force and movement will be converted into matter. The experience of space is being expressed in the shapes and characters in each of Frans’ sculptures. His sculptures of bulls express explosive power while the horses find their strength in being elegant. Each sculpture recalls this way their own association and serves as a metaphor for a certain emotion. Feelings, which has inspired the artist for each sculpture.
Powerful and Elegant
Looking at the works of this artist, it becomes very clear that one of his most important sources is his background in art history. The Renaissance period as well as several Italian artists served as inspiration to Frans as a sculpture. For instance the expressions in Leonardo da Vinci’s artworks, and also Giovanni Bologna’s dynamic form and shape.
One of Frans preferences is the intriguing contradiction of movement and suggestion of zero gravity.
In many of Frans’ sculptures the artist plays tricks with the onlooker’s imagination in his constant quest to present an explosive, powerful movement, frozen in time. Inspired by the before-mentioned artists he became a sculptor who creates harmonic, authentic bronze sculptures of a very high quality. Frans van Straaten is known in Europe as an artist who produces sculptures in both traditional and original styles. Because of the difficulty of combining both styles he sculpts in either category. Muscle reflex and anatomy force themselves to graceful abstract parts, in which each line and surface plays its own part. The highly expressive sculptures are very powerful and elegant, playing tricks with our emotions, and presenting themselves in a three dimensional space.
Exhibitions and Orders
The City Counsel of Capelle aan den IJssel in the Netherlands commissioned Frans van Straaten to sculpt one of the largest bronze bull in the Netherlands. Suffice it to say that Frans is very proud of this monumental bronze statue which measures eight feet tall. Frans van Straaten has exhibited in the Netherlands and abroad.