Frans Clement is an artist who, with his photorealistic style, elevates the everyday to art. Whether it's a concrete mixer, an intimate portrait, or an object in a preserving jar: the precision of representation is always central, combined with a subtle tension between reality and interpretation.
Biography of Frans Clement
Frans Clement was born in Eindhoven in 1941. He studied at the Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven and subsequently developed into a painter with a penchant for photorealism. His work is characterized by a sharp observation of reality, in which he captures everyday objects, situations and people with an almost photographic precision. Clement is inspired by the contrasts between man and object, between banality and beauty, and between fleeting moments and lasting images. His paintings often raise questions about the relationship between reality and representation: is what we see pure registration, or is there a deeper layer hidden within?
Frans Clement was born in Eindhoven in 1941. He studied at the Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven and subsequently developed into a painter with a penchant for photorealism. His work is characterized by a sharp observation of reality, in which he captures everyday objects, situations and people with an almost photographic precision. Clement is inspired by the contrasts between man and object, between banality and beauty, and between fleeting moments and lasting images. His paintings often raise questions about the relationship between reality and representation: is what we see pure registration, or is there a deeper layer hidden within?
1. Concrete mixer
This painting depicts a bright yellow cement mixer, rendered monumentally against a brick background. The machine is sharply defined and radiates technical power and simplicity. The sharp shadows and the red safety plug on the cable give the work an almost documentary feel. Clement elevates an industrial object to art, inviting the viewer to see the aesthetics of the everyday.
2. Edith (I and II)
Edith's portraits depict a young woman in various poses. In the first work, she sits against a red background, dressed in a yellow top and a black skirt with floral patterns. Her gaze is intense, somewhat stern, and her body language radiates strength and self-confidence. In the second work, she stands against a light blue background, wearing a white top, short denim shorts, and white fringed boots. The pose is more challenging: hand on hip, chin slightly raised. Clement combines the style of a fashion portrait with personal intimacy, capturing a snapshot of the 1970s/80s.
3. Weck jar
An unexpected and playful image: a glass preserving jar containing a red cloth doll or cuddly toy. The transparency of the glass and the shine of the metal are rendered to perfection. The work plays with scale and meaning: the object that normally offers protection or preservation becomes a cage for a seemingly lively figure. Clement captures the tension between humor, absurdity, and alienation.
4. Bus
A fragment of a city bus is depicted in a monumental way. The bright yellow surfaces, dark lines, and empty boarding area emphasize the silence of a vehicle that is normally full of life. The sign "Keep your money ready" immediately evokes a recognizable image of a specific time period. Clement elevates this everyday detail to art through his sharp photorealistic painting style.
A fragment of a city bus is depicted in a monumental way. The bright yellow surfaces, dark lines, and empty boarding area emphasize the silence of a vehicle that is normally full of life. The sign "Keep your money ready" immediately evokes a recognizable image of a specific time period. Clement elevates this everyday detail to art through his sharp photorealistic painting style.
