Rhinoceros at the Middelheim Museum

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Gerard Holmens, a Belgian sculptor born in 1934, passed away in 1995. He studied at the Municipal Academy of Ostend from 1951-53, then at the Academy of Antwerp from 1955-56, followed by the Academy of Ghent from 1957-58 and finally at "La Grande Chaumiere" in Paris. In 1955 Holmens abandoned stylized figuration, opting instead for vegetal compositions and imaginary animals; his search led to mobile stone sculptures in 1965. Following a trip to Ireland, he created the picture cycle "Silence". Since 1981, Holmens has lived in France where a new series of work emerged, a kind of neo-romantic or neosymbolistische figuration centered around themes of table, chair, vehicle and laden with symbolism of life, death, meaninglessness, eroticism, fate and horror. Many works by the artist have been sold at auction, including "Composition" which sold for $8,236 in 2014 through De Vuyst's "Old Masters, Modern & Contemporary Art".