Jan Fabre  (Belgian, 1958) 

Jan Fabre (Belgian, b.1958) is recognized internationally as one of the most versatile artists of his time. Born in Antwerp in 1958, the artist has spent the past 25 years creating works in Performance Art, theater, choreography, opera, and visual arts. A graduate of the Municipal Institute of Decorative Arts, as well as the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Fabre received early recognition through his Performance Art. His interest in the medium is a reflection of his passion for acting and theater. In the late 1970s, his well-known performances involved burning money from audience members and creating drawings from the remaining ashes. His themes include ancient ritual, beauty, lust, and violence. Old Master painters, such as Jan van Eyck (Flemish, 1390–1441)—who he admired for his spatial thinking—inspire many of Fabre’s sculptures. The use of gold in Old Master paintings can be seen in Fabre’s work as well, specifically in the late 1970s pieces, where he covers himself in copper thumbtacks. Between 1976 and 1980, the artist focused on his theatre, completing his first scripts. In 1986, Troubleyn/Jan Fabre Theatre Company was established, which remains a large accomplishment for the artist. Years later in the 1980s, his work shifted, heavily involving the investigation of the body and its form. His ballpoint drawings, known as Bic-art became widely recognized after the artist covered an entire building with ballpoint drawings. Perhaps his best known works include the decoration of the ceiling of the Royal Palace in Brussels, which included 1,600,000 jewel-scarab wing cases. In 2004, he erected Totem, a giant bug on a 70 foot steel needle, on the Ladeuzeplein in Leuven. Fabre has taken part in major international exhibitions, such as the Venice Biennale, Documenta in Kassel, and the Istanbul Biennale.