Untitled 31 // Union Standard (Load Unit No.7)
$1,200.00
Artist: Jeff van Leeuwen
Medium: Cast concrete, adhesive, scrap driftwood (Lake Ontario)
Artist Statement:
The (Im)Balance series is a collection of self portraits made using casting techniques and found object assemblages. Producing these works has helped navigate my grief after losing my mother to mesothelioma (cancer caused by asbestos exposure). For years, I struggled with anger, sadness, and emotional disconnection. Exploring art and spending time in nature became essential parts of my healing and catalysts for rebuilding my sense of self. During nature walks, seeking solitude and peace, I was often unable to escape the sight of waste and discarded human-made debris. I found this deeply upsetting. These sculptures are my attempt to assuage negative feelings and to revalue the discarded. Each work uses some element of balance- the physical act of which helps me solidify my own emotional stability; as I reharmonize found materials with the human form. Rather than imposing a predetermined structure, I listen closely to the thingness of things; responding to the textures, histories, and tensions already present within the objects I collect. Through reworking what has been cast aside, I aim to create spaces of attention, tenderness, and renewal. At its core, my work is an attempt to find light within loss and balance (beauty) from what remains.
Artist Biography:
Jeff van Leeuwen is an intermedia artist and sculptor based in Southern Ontario, Canada. Having transitioned to an art practice from a former career in construction and trades, van Leeuwen’s work incorporates a close familiarity with the materials and structures that shape daily life. Repurposed concrete, wood, metal and found objects make up the bulk of his assemblages. His pieces often investigate the complex relationship between humanity and the environment. Sculptures function as a commentary on the human condition, and a criticism of the irresponsible management of materials and waste. Fracturing, recombining and balancing forms help van Leeuwen to address issues of negligence at their core: personal understanding and acceptance of oneself and others. His belief is that without internal balance and harmony, external imbalance- be it interpersonal or environmental, is sure to follow. This inevitably leads to conflict. He works to encourage self reflection, tenderness and love, fostering greater accountability with nature and each other as stewards of our planet.
