Heroism

The image of the fireman has played a central role for the exhibition ‘Monumentality’. It all started with the small depiction of the fireman and from there all the others organically grew. “For me the fireman is one of the ultimate archetypal heroes within society. I have depicted him with the same vigour and energy as a knight. An elemental figure with a higher calling.” – Fen

This work was featured in Fen de Villiers’ 2018 exhibition ‘Monumentality’.

Monumentality happens in the mind. Actual size is of minor importance. In our imagination something very small can possess an enormous grandeur. What matters is that every monument embodies an element we want to keep alive. A story we want to remember forever. Fen de Villiers seeks to display universal strength in his work. His sculptures form mental touchstones around aspects of society he feels should be monumentalised. He stresses the necessity for these elements to be contemplated and gazed upon, a process he calls ‘aesthetic consumption’. The sculptor guides our imagination through the work. He invites us not only to consider the setting and motivations of the figures, but also the places and historical events they dwelled within. Fen translates archetypal subjects into powerful or even heroic images, although always wishes that the viewer can find his own interpretation. (Monumentality by Fen de Villiers publication, 2018)