Bringing Nature Back to Our Cities - In Conversation with Arne Quinze

Drawing inspiration from the beauties of nature, Belgian artist Arne Quinze has developed a poignant practice characterized by colorful and expressive palette. With a rich oeuvre spanning small drawings and paintings and medium-sized sculptures to massive installations, the artist seeks to promote communication and social interaction guided by the belief that the idealistic society, in which people are brought together, can be achieved.

Arne has been questioning the roles of our cities ever since he began his career as a graffiti writer in the 1980s. Continually working to reintroduce nature in urban spaces, he seeks to inspire the public to question their environment and their place in it. Through his public installations, the artist contributes energetically to the workings of cities bringing his art into the daily life of their inhabitants. 

I was shocked to learn that since I was born in 1971, we, as humans, have managed to destroy one-third of the flora and fauna existing at that time. 

Living and working in Sint-Martens-Latem, a small village near Ghent, Arne roots his practice in the meticulous and admirative observation of the large, skilfully-cultivated wildflower garden that surrounds his studio, where he has planted tens of thousands of plants and flowers over the course of ten years. Throughout the year, the artist works, arranges and explores the complete metamorphosis of this flowery paradise in order to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of nature. Inspired by the abundance of tints he finds in this wildflower garden, the artist creates works that appear organic, reflecting both the fragility and resilience of nature.

Arne Quinze at BRAFA Art Fair

Selected as the youngest and first Belgian guest of honour of the BRAFA Art Fair, Arne Quinze will breathe a breath of fresh air into the 67th edition of the fair, integrating his flowery works into the decor of the 2022 event. As Harold t'Kint de Roodenbeke, the Chairman of BRAFA, explains, Arne will present paintings, drawings, and sculptures, but also design the carpet for this edition of the fair, taking place from June 19th to June 26th, 2022 at Brussels Expo I Heysel in Brussels (Halls 3 and 4).

His expressive and colourful creations will undoubtedly instil a joyful and positive atmosphere at BRAFA, which will be particularly fitting for this renewal edition.

Laurent Mercier, Co-Director of MARUANI MERCIER which represents Arne, has described him as "the most controversial artist we decided to represent" because he "has always done what he wanted to do and not what the market expected him to do." As he added, the artist "has been taking risks for over 30 years."

There is simply no other artist on this planet that has made as many colossal sculptures, seemingly impossible feats of engineering that find their inspiration in nature. 

We had the great pleasure of talking to Arne on this occasion. Have a listen below!

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Featured image: Arne Quinze in his studio. Photography by Dave Bruel. All images courtesy of the artist and BRAFA Art Fair.