Axel Saffran

Portrait / figurative artist based in the Netherlands.

Repertoire:

+ Portraits
+ Nudes, emphasising anatomy and draftsmanship
+ Vintage scenes based on antique photographs
+ Re-imagined classical/mythological golden oldies
+ some oversized semi-abstract landscapes

My approach to inspirational input is that of an omnivore, feeding in 360º on both 'high' and 'low' culture in terms of music, performing arts, dance, cinematography, design and visual arts . My creative output has always been similarly divers in form. (i.e. sculptures in stone/metal/wood ; paintings ; murals and photo-based digital work) Only recently I have been able to narrow things down a bit.

For a decade, circumstances forced me to focus on one mode of expression (2D, digital), and a couple of years ago I circled back to the place where my creativity once sprouted...

DRAWINGS

Early 2020, I started drawing again, after not having done that for more than a decade, and not this seriously since my childhood/adolescence, when I hardly did anything else.

I draw in a sparse yet naturalistic style, capturing many nuances and often adding layers dealing with realities of existence beyond the obviously visible. They are expressed in colour, direction, gesture, textur...

"Self-taught", which is not to imply I invented every wheel on my wagon singlehandedly, or without guidance. I didn't finish my formal education at the Rotterdam art academy (now Willem de Kooning Academy) in the early 90's. Instead, I bought a ticket to India , and stayed outside of Europe for several years to experience what the rest of the planet looks, sounds and smells like. Back in the Netherlands in '96, I took some practical courses, before starting out as a sculptor in The Hague.

February 3 and 4, 2024, I presented my work at Art Eindhoven.

October 7 and 8, 2023, I showed work and was present in 13th century castle Daelenbroeck, in the context of Kunststroom Roerdalen-Wassenberg.

February 4 and 5, 2023, I showed work and was present at Art Eindhoven, Netherlands.

May 23 – June 05, 2022, I was invited to participate in The Other Art Fair, virtual editions, presented by Saatchi Art.

Between 2003 and 2022, I have (for personal reasons) only really exhibited my work online in various places. Before that, I've had several exhibitions in 2000 and 2001 in The Hague, showing sculptures and the odd painting. Pictures of those sculptures can be viewed on the 'about' page of my website.