Slate Stone Compositions

Two extremes in ‘being’ forms the starting point for his images. On the one hand, the primary need for nutrition and safety. On the other hand, the necessary ballast can be released in a pursuit of overview and to be who you are. This data is shared in slate. And it is visible in the compact static form or in the open and rhythmic composition.

Michiel Jansen has been working with slate for many years. That is an ancient material, stone that is composed of nature. As a sculptor he rearranges those layers and uses them to build new forms of his own. Space, light effect and form contrasts are the most important elements of the creation of an image. Slate slabs are processed individually, piece by piece. Chopping, cutting, drilling and grinding. Then they are connected and made into a whole. Often pure color pigments are still applied. Deep and dark are the stones that often seem to conceal a strong, bright source of color in the sculpture.

His work is included in private and corporate collections in the Netherlands and abroad.

Artists he admired are Piet Mondrian, Ellsworth Kelly and Anish Kapoor.