DIRK ZOETE
biography | cv
_born in 1969 in Roeselare, Belgium
lives and works in Ghent, Belgium
Drawing forms the core of Zoete’s oeuvre. He always starts from observation drawings of things that cross his path, like a cactus, a landscape or the human form. Influenced by the theatre sets and costumes of the German Bauhaus and Russian Constructivism of the 1920s, Zoete organizes happenings in his studio in which actors in imaginative costumes pose in front of his camera. Their masks are based on self-portraits from the artist. His drawings are the two-dimensional reports of those events.
From these observations on paper, Zoete lets his imagination run free. He remodels them over and over, until they have evolved into drawings that are far removed from the reality they were originally based on. The artist refuses to determine an absolute, finished form. On the contrary: he is constantly searching for ways of improvement and shows all stadia of his learning process to the viewer. Along the way, Zoete lets himself be guided by chance and coincidence. Although the simplicity of pencil on paper gives him the freedom required for his improvisational method, Zoete also appeals to other media. His drawings can give rise to performances, sculptures, photographs and vice versa.
Text source: gallery FIFTY ONE
_solo exhibitions
2018
Quietly Humming thoughts. Gallery Fifty One, Antwerp,BE
- A Moment of Collective Concentration during the Expedition, Emergent, Veurne,BE
2017
To be determined. According to the situation,SMAK,Ghent,BE
2016
The Stage between the more and less” Kromus+ZInk, Berlin,DE
- "Senhor Palhaço" Small Art Center, Antwerp,BE
- In anticipation of improvement - The Be-Part Exercises, Be-Part, Waregem,BE
2015
Native Constructions” Waldkirchen,DE
- „Various parts, present on al levels” Art integration, Centrum voor Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg, Aalst, BE
- Collection of Components, Teylers Museum, Haarlem, NL.
2014
The Woodcut series. Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Ghent, BE
2013
S-trails” Loods 12, Wetteren, BE
- Bookprsentation „The Big Convoy” KIOSK, KASK, Ghent,BE
2012
The Big Convoy”, Galerie Annie Gentils,Antwerpen, BE
2008
“Flemisch Voodoo” Gallery Annie Gentils , Antwerpen, BE
2007
vzw Croxhapox, Gent "concrete sculptures" BE
2004
STUK Kunstencentrum vzw, Leuven, BE
2002
“Wonen in een hoofd als een huiselijk avonturier, 1:13”
Galerij De Lege Ruimte, Ghent, BE
_books
- “The Big Convoy” Posture Editions nr.5 2013
- „Careful Dressage” Croxhapox 2014
- The Be-Part Exercises Roma Publications 2016
- TO BE DETERMINED. ACCORDING TO THE SITUATION, SMAK and Mousse publishing 2018
_group exhibitions
2018
Comme les nuages, les formes du monde tournent les unes dans les autres, Centre d'Art Contemporain Chanot, Clamart, Paris, FR.
2016
Greetings from Ghent, Waldkirchen, DE
-Based on many faces„Coup de vile version”, Coup de ville, Sint-Niklaas,BE
- Drawing Front, Drawing Centre, Diepenheim,NL
2015
Vormidable. Flemish sculpture, Den Haag,NL.
2014
Conflicts,Vierkante zaal, Academie Sint-Niklaas, BE
- Een onvervalste leugen. Emergent, Veurne
- Separation of Concerns, Villa De Olmen, Wieze
- Museum on scale1:7. Project: Galerie Ronny Van de Velde , Antwerpen.
Koninklijke Musea Schone kunsten van België, Brussel
The Baker Museum, Florida, USA
Kunsthal, Rotterdam, NL
- De Zee. Galerie Maurits van de Laar, Den Haag, NL.
2013
Constructies. Emergent, Veurne
2012
“Façade”, vzw Netwerk, Aalst.
-Duo tentoonstelling, Martin Assig (D), Dirk Zoete. Galerie Maurits van de Laar.
Den Haag, NL.
-“Hermetic City” Garage Rotterdam, Nederland
-“Arcadian Boxes” Gallery Siakos-Hanappe (curator Steven Jacobs)
Athene, Griekenland.
2011
“Morrens en De Boe Productions” Aux Brasseurs, Luik
-“Tijdelijk Verblijf” Kasteel D’ Aspermont-Lynden, Oud -Rekem
-“Zweierlei” Klingental, Basel, Zwitserland
2009
“Landart project” Art Station Wilheminapolder, Zeeland, Nederland,NL
2008
Dirk Zoete & Tim Brown, Della Calberson, Hugo
Debaere, Tommy De Block, Hugo Vanneste. Voorkamer,Lier
- The hands of art. SMAK, Gent
- The hands of art. MARTa Herford, DE
2007
“Nieuwe Collectie” – Stedelijk Museum Wuyts-Van Campen & Baron Caroly,
Lier
- Atelierhaus des Bonner Kunstvereins, Offene Ateliers. Bonn,DE
- ‘Bruegel Revisited’, Kasteel van Bouchout, Nationale Plantentuin Meise
– Wat is/ Wat zou kunnen , W139. Amsterdam,NL
- Kunst en Zwalm 2005, Zwalm (cat.)
- Les Ventinelles. Edition 2005 Flandre. Angles, FR
2004
‘Zie Tekening’ – Stedelijk Museum Wuyts-Van Campen & Baron Caroly, Lier – Tekeningen
- “Oogst – Récolte – Harvest” Caermersklooster, Gent (Provinciale Prijs Beeldende Kunst)
2003
‘Beeld in Park’ – Felix Hap Park, Brussel