Play and Seriousness: Artist Conrad Willems Designs Jo Crepain Awards
Using natural stone and European oak wood, Conrad Willems created five sculptures that embody modularity and movement. “I wanted to capture both playfulness and seriousness in one architectural image.”
How did the concept for the Jo Crepain Awards come about?
“My work as a sculptor stems from a love for constructions that contain modularity and movement. Many of my sculptures may seem formally calculated and planned, but they are usually the result of play and intuition. For the Jo Crepain Awards, I wanted to apply those principles as well, with the playful element being emphasized, but also evoking associations with traditional awards. The four elements in each award, stacked in different ways, contain the fundamental principles of architecture. I wanted to capture both playfulness and seriousness in one architectural image.”
What materials did you work with?
“For the awards, I chose natural stone. Together with Potier Stone, we selected leftover pieces that we could work with. The awards are framed with European oak. Working with natural materials like stone and wood is an honor: they are rich materials found in nature. They not only bring aesthetic value but also carry the raw power of their creation. With natural stone, the origin, geology, and use throughout architectural history add an extra layer of meaning to each piece.”
Are you familiar with the work of Jo Crepain?
“In 2011, the University of Leuven organized an art competition for several integrated artworks in a new building for the Gasthuisberg campus. Three artists were selected, including myself, with the proposal to create a twenty-meter-long by two-meter-high drawing. Armed with a box of colorfast markers, I spent seven long days on a scaffold. I slept in the same building on a couch in the student association room. And that building was designed by... Jo Crepain!”
How do you, as an artist, view the balancing act of creating and entrepreneurship?
“When I introduce myself as a sculptor, people often imagine a studio filled to the brim with works to be finished, accompanied by the constant sound of a chisel against marble. The reality, however, is that I am not only responsible for the production of my works, but also for the entire business surrounding it. This means that communication and administrative tasks, such as sales, are also part of my responsibilities. But these tasks are part of running a business. What seems most important to me is maintaining a consistent quality, both in my creative process and in how I present my work to the outside world.”
Do you have any message for architects?
“I have learned from experience that raw materials—whether they are bricks, blue stone pavers, or leftover pieces of natural stone—can dictate how they are used through their form and materiality. But that can only happen if you take them in your hands and work with them. There's much to be gained by occasionally getting physically involved and letting the material speak by playing with it.”
