Francois du Plessis

François du Plessis’ book objects rarely look like books. They look like large tree slices. They look like gay whirls of colour or vertically arranged landscapes. And they look like small insects running up the sheer wall. No, his book objects do not look like alienated books. And yet they are book objects. Because the are made out of what books are made of: many layers of printed pages, velvety linen bindings or shining soft covers, and colourful bookmarkers.

Biography

François du Plessis’s book objects are made of many layers of printed pages, velvety linen bindings or soft covers, and colorful bookmarks. From these simple materials, he transforms books into sculptures that rarely resemble books but rather cross-sections of trees or aerial views of terraced landscapes with swirls of brilliant color. His evocative titles—“The Vanishing Princess,” “Enchantress of Numbers,” “Days Without End”—suggest that he’s interested in stories, though his work turns them into something alien and new.

Born in Zimbabwe, du Plessis has exhibited internationally, including at art fairs in Cologne, Brussels, and Amsterdam, and in galleries and private collections throughout Europe. He lives and works in Germany.

Born 1961 Zimbabwe, Africa. Education Self-taught Selected Exhibitions 2017 Gallery Freitag, Aachen, Germany. St. Mortiz Art Masters, Switzerland. 2016 Gallery Freitag, Aachen, Germany. 2015 Gallery Freitag, Aachen, Germany. Art Fair, Cologne, Germany. “Book Stories” - Stern Wywiol Gallery, Hamburg, Germany. Contemporary Art Fair, Rotterdam, Netherlands. “Livres D’Artistes” – Espace St. Mengold-Huy, Belgium. Art Karlsruhe, Germany. KunstRai, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Positions Berlin, Germany. 2014 Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen Art.Fair, Köln “Papier Biennale 2014”, Museum Rijswijk, Netherlands. 2013 “Book Stories” – Kunstverein Xanten “Book Stories” – Galerie Negen Punt Negen, Roeselare “ART 2013 Art Fair”- Utrecht, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag. “Book Stories” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen, Germany. “Reactivation”- Betonbox, Düsseldorf “DIE GROSSE Kunstausstellung NRW Düsseldorf” – Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf “Affordable Art Fair” – Brüssel, Belgien, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag 2012 “Miniaturen” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Affordable Art Fair” – Hamburg, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag. “Affordable Art Fair” – Amsterdam, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag. “Arti 12 Art Fair” – Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Gruppenausstellung”- Galerie T, Middelburg “Art Ulm – Int. Kunstmesse”- Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Open Art Fair” – Utrecht, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag. “Ostrale”- Ostragehege, Dresden “Zeitgenössische afrikanische Künstler in der Sammlung”- (Kindermann Sammlung), Pfalzmuseum Forchheim “Art and Antique Fair”- Rosmalen, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Livres D´ idéés de Livres”- Musée des Beaux-Arts, Verviers “Gastarbeiten”- Nadel Fabrik, Aachen “DIE GROSSE Kunstausstellung NRW Düsseldorf”- Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf 2011 “Neue Positionen”- In Situ, Maastricht/NL”Miniaturen”- Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen. “Small is Beautiful”- Monos Art Gallery, Lüttich “Arti 11 Art Fair”- Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Alternate Current”- Slib, Hasselt “Carte Blanche mit Didier Bourgignoun”- Galerie Juvenal, Huy “Just one”- Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “1”- Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Ostrale” – Ostragehege, Dresden “Art Focus Euregio”- Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht “Book Stories”- KUNSTRAUM NO.10, Mönchengladbach “Art and Antique Fair”- Hertogenbosch, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Positionen, Sammlung Kindermann”- Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Affordable Art Fair”- Brüssel, Belgien, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Kunst Salon”- Eindhoven, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag 2010 “Fine Art- Nice Price”- Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Miniaturen”- Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Arti 10 Art Fair”- Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Affordable Art Fair”- Amsterdam, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Pas des deux”, mit Annette Besgen – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen. “Open Art Fair”- Utrecht, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Umgekehrt”- Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Untitled”- Monos Art Gallery, Lüttich “Made in Germany”- Henn Art Exhibitions, Maastricht “Joburg Art Fair”- Johannesburg, Süd Afrika, Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “A propos d`ecriture(s)”- Maison de la Culture, March-en- Fammene “Affordable Art Fair”- Brüssel, Belgien, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag 2009 “Jahresgaben” – NAK, (Neue Aachener Kunstverein), Aachen “Fine Art – Nice Price” – Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Miniaturen” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Affordable Art Fair” – Amsterdam, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Kunstroute” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Open Art Fair” – Utrecht, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “5 Jahre” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Book Stories” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Affordable Art Fair”– Paris, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “40 Jahre Jubiläums Austellung” – Galerie Smelik – Stokking, Den Haag “Samenleven” – Kultuur Centrum Meersen, Meersen “Kunsttour Maastricht” – Regional-Historisches Zentrum Limburg, Curator Oliver Henn, Maastricht “A la Carte” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Joburg Art Fair” – Johannesburg, Süd Afrika, Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Affordable Art Fair” – Brüssel, Belgien, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag 2008 “Aachen Art”– Stawag Energie Konzern, Aachen “Miniaturen” – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Arti 08 Art Fair” – Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Kunstroute Aachen” – Ludwig Forum für internationale Kunst und Welsche Mühle, Aachen “The Affordable Art Fair – London/GB”, Galerie Smelik- Stokking, Den Haag “Open Art Fair” – Utrecht, Gallery Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Art in Red light – Oude Kerk” – Amsterdam “Lange Nacht der Museen” – Atelierhaus Aachen “Book Stories” – Afrika-Museum, Cadier en Keer “Experimentelle 15” – Galerie Titus Koch, Gottmadingen “Kunsttour Maastricht” – Natuur Historisch Museum “Cinque” – Monos Art Gallery, Lüttich “Dialogue” – Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Book Stories“ – My own Choice Gallery, Amsterdam 2007 “Fine Art – Nice Price“ – Artco Galerie, Herzogenrath “Miniaturen“ – Galerie Freitag 18.30, Aachen “Kunst-Dosen” – Henn Art Exhibitions, Maastricht “Affordable Art Fair” – Amsterdam, Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag. “Ubuntu – South African Contemporary Art” – ABC Treehouse Gallery, Amsterdam “Kunsttour Maastricht” – Regional-Historisches Zentrum Limburg, Curator Oliver Henn, Maastricht 2006 “Book Stories” – Kunstverein Siegen (Gallerie S), Siegen “Rentrée non académique” – Monos Art Gallery, Lüttich “Aachen trifft” – Galerie Freitag 18:30, Aachen “Seitenwechsel” – KuKuK, Belgien-Deutschland Ausstellung mit Françoise Deprez und Gerard Scheening, Galerie Prinsenhoek, Limbricht. 2005 “Papier d’hiver” – Monos Art Gallery, Lüttich “Digestion” – Mamac (Musée d’Art Modern et d’Art Contemperain), Lüttich Gruppenausstellung mit Christiane Schoenen und Helge Hommes, Schloß Burgau, Kunstverein Düren, Düren. “Holland Art Fair” – Den Haag 2004 “Papier d’hiver” – Monos Art Gallery, Lüttich “Lineart” in Gent/Belgien – Galerie Pieter Post & Garcia aus Maastricht. “Parasiten IV” – Museum Frankenberg, Aachen “Afro Vibes”, mit Clifford Charles – Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Quer 04” – Monschau “Holland Art Fair” – Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag “Book Stories” – Atelierhaus Aachen 2003 Ausstellung mit Paul van Impe, Galerie Hoge Bomen II – Oostduinkerke. “Eclosion” – Château de Jehay 2002 “Parasiten ” – Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst – Aachen “Kunst RAI” – Kunstmesse Amsterdam, vertreten durch Galerie Chiefs and Spirits Galerie Chiefs and Spirits, Den Haag. 1997 Galerie Kick, Kassel “4 von Maloka” – Cartagena/Kolumbien 1996 “Mama Afrika” – Galerie I. S., Eupen “Maloka” – Documenta-Halle, Kassel 1995 Rathaus-Galerie, Vellmar