Stefan Cools
6241EN - Bunde
Netherlands (Paises Bajos)
Email: stefancools@gmail.com
Site: http://www.stefancools.nl/
CV Breve
Date of birth: March, 28 1981
Study
2003 Master Floral Art Den Bosch, the Netherlands
About the artist and his work
Stefan Cools, Alma Mater
In his latest exhibition the work of Stefan Cools presents us with an ecological paradigm.
Stefan's practice is focused around a peculiar 'meta-science' or 'metaphysical-theory' that takes
into consideration the way life systems are interrelated and connected. This includes awareness of
the origins of materials, the way objects and products are constructed and the physical and
psychological purpose that art serves in the production of meaning.
About the artist and his work (continue)
What is the connection between an ecological paradigm and an artistic product? What is the
relationship between the body, ecological and cultural space in this context? What can an artistic
outcome communicate in this relationship? The historical development of the natural sciences has
been to formally investigate disparate areas of study.
The study of specific physical and biological conditions in isolation had created a vast
knowledge base but interconnections and relationships needed the consideration of a 'meta-science'
that could bring to us a level of integrated understanding. Through the science of Ecology we now
appreciate how scientific and technological advances might affect entire systems.
About the artist and his work (continue)
Ecology is the understanding of interrelated systems, both environmental and social, as such can
be applied as a methodology to natural environment and artistic practices. The term 'ecology' is
therefore not fixed as a singular definition and has different meanings across the 'hard' and
'soft' sciences as well as cultural and artistic interpretation.
Stefan's, Alma Mater suggests an Ecological paradigm for artistic practice with an awareness
of broader systems in the production of artwork, the role of artistic practice in the environmental
and social fabric and the methodology and ethics of its production and deployment.
As an interpretive construct Alma Mater is not a benign worldview but rather one that allows
the flexibility of creative responses. A way of interpreting cultural identifiers through
environmental and spatial relationships, rather than isolated occurrence and singular meanings or
outcomes.
This represents a move away from 'objects' and towards 'relationships'. What it suggests for
the individual artist is an awareness and practice of 'ecological-interest' rather than
'self-interest'. Stefan, seeking to interpret a human ecology, requires us to witness the labour of
his body and the environment for which its representation depends. We often choose to represent the
'self' as the disembodied mind in the mind/body split of rationalist mechanistic discourses.
However, Alma Mater is a paradox.
About the artist and his work (continue)
Stefan interprets the surfaces of the exhibition space as an environmental substrate. Materials
and meanings are sequestered along its passages and like synaptic junctions between nerve cells,
meaning is transmitted between gaps in our perception. This extends to the imagination of
creativity in non-human animals, birds and insects. In the culturally mediated arena of the art
museum Stefan elaborates this perceptual complexity. It is manifested through the imagined and
implied. Evidence of any 'art' is a by product of his physical presence in this space.
Stefan's vision is an environment of spatial perceptions, mediated through Alma Mater as an
extension of the human into imagined ecological relationships and perceptual resonances.
Russell Milledge
Lecture, School of creative Arts
James Cook University
29 May 2009
Exhibitions
2010 El Centre d'art i Sostenibilitat del Forn de la Calç: Calders, Spain Artist in residence
2010 Museu de Land Art: Barcelona, Spain, Permanent installation
2010 Natural History Museum: Maastricht, the Netherlands, Group exhibition, curated by Oliver
Henn
2010 Crate 59 contemporary art gallery: Cairns, Australia, Scuttle Butt (exhibition with
several artists)
2010 - 21A Art and Architecture: Sittard, the Netherlands, Flash Expo
2009 Cairns Regional Gallery: Cairns, Australia, "Alma Mater", Solo exhibition, curated by
the Cairns Regional Gallery
2007 Cairns Regional Gallery: Cairns, Australia, "Situational vitrines", Selected exhibition
in cooperation with Cell Art Space
2007 ONYVA: Maastricht, the Netherlands, "Wood, Wool, Stone and Seeds"
2006 Cell Art Space: Cairns, Australia, "Where the seeds reach the earth, is where they will
germinate"
2005 Centre for the Arts: Eindhoven, the Netherlands, "Natura est Ars"
2004 Helicon: Den Bosch, the Netherlands, "Food for thought" (exhibition with several
artists)
2003 Gallery HAF: Maastricht, the Netherlands, "Organic objects"
2003 St.Agnes Walking Tour - exhibition in forest: Bunde, the Netherlands, "Organic objects"
2001 "New Artist 2001": Zürich, Switzerland, In cooperation with Marcelle van Dijck-Heitzer
Publications
2009 Regional Newspaper Queensland Cairns Post, "Nature takes its course"
2008 Art Magazine Basta Maastricht, "Natuur is Kunst"
2007 Exhibition catalogue "Situational vitrines"
2005 Floral Profession Magazine De Pook No. 3, "Ik wil mensen aan het denken zetten"
2003 Regional Newspaper De Limburger, "Kunst uit het bos"
2003 Floral Profession Magazine De Pook No. 2, "Organische Objecten"
2002 Regional Newspaper De Limburger, "Geen idée waar die Craspedia vandaan komt"
Presentations
2003 Limburgs Land: presentation on regional radio
2003 Limburgs Land: presentation on regional TV
