Hélène Sculpture, 2023. 90 × 142 × 110.5 cm. MDF, polyester, coating

‘Hélène’ is a monochrome grey, life-size sculpture of a frail, young woman dressed as a boxer. She sits exhausted on the floor, recovering from physical exertion. Her eyes are closed, showing us a woman taking some time for herself, both physically and mentally.

Op de Beeck has always paid special attention to the moment when we let go of our social roles and daily worries and surrender to a moment when we are nobody and nowhere for a while, when we slip into the unknown of the subconscious.

Over the years, Hans Op de Beeck has created several life-size sculptures of characters who, specifically dressed for a dynamic activity, in private seek a moment of silence and tranquillity for themselves, with their eyes closed.

This moment of stillness contrasts greatly with their outfits. The grey monochromatic nature of the sculptures makes the characters appear as if petrified or frozen in time, as if the characters’ brief moments of introspection and letting go have been made timeless.