S.M.A.K. Ghent, Belgium
2007
Charcoal drawing on exhibition space / chalk drawing on walls in public space (with publication)

Quote from a letter to the commissioner, 'Friends of SMAK':
'The drawing in the Kunst NU space is part of a journey on which I use chalk and charcoal to make drawings on walls in public spaces of cities. Sometimes a wall is offered to me, like this time by you. The Kunst NU space is long, narrow and high. I wanted to give the space weight as well as emptiness, so as to bring the space itself out of balance.'

NL_letter to friends of SMAK.pdf

Culturgest Porto / Culturgest Lisbon, Portugal
2006
chalk drawings on public walls / charcoal drawing in exhibition space / chalk drawing on social housing designed by Alvaro Siza (with publication)

For a solo exhibition in Culturgest Porto I was confronted with a difficult space, the former reception hall of a monumental bank building. One of the drawings looks at the reception hall in a bird’s eye view, while in another drawing I approach the hall from ground level perspective.

I continued the drawing on the façade of the uncompleted social housing project 'Conjunto Habitacional da Bouça', by the Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza.
Parallel to the project I worked in Culturgest Lisbon as participant of a group exhibition with ROMA publications. I made drawings both on walls in the art space as well as on walls in the outskirts of Lisbon.

NL_Portugese_omzwervingen_Frank_Maes.pdf
EN_Portuguese_wanderings_Frank_Maes.pdf

ZINK gallery Munchen, Germany
2009
chalk drawing on ceiling and walls in bar; drawing continues on the apartment building opposite bar / charcoal drawing on ceiling in private home of Michael Zink

The apartment building opposite the bar is very common in Munich, you see thousands of these buildings. The inhabitant of one of the apartments gave me permission to draw a 'frame' on the façade of his apartment, meant to make the apartment stand out in the street. I explained that chalk is not threatening since it washes away with rain. Thus the tenant decided it was not necessary to inform the owner of the building.

On the façade of a neighbouring restaurant I made a second frame in chalk. Its staff did contact the owner, and the police, who summoned me to wash away the chalk before the drawing was even finished. The charcoal drawing in Michael Zink's apartment has a more permanent character.

Kunstverein Ahlen, Germany
2007
charcoal drawings on wall, chalk drawings on playground (with publication)

The ceiling of Kunstverein Ahlen's exhibition space presses heavily on its supporting pillars. I draw these pillars and the rafters on the wall from several points of view, larger and longer than in reality. I draw until the drawing presses the exhibition space further into itself. On one wall of the space I draw a distorted frame (to a very young visitor I explain this is a flying carpet) which partly touches the floor, and partly disappears outside, through the window. On the stones of the playground of a school nearby I draw all kinds of flying carpets, in all sizes and forms. They function as frames, in which the students of this primary school drew 'how the world looks from a flying carpet'.

NL_brief aan de curator, Ph van Cauteren.pdf
NL_antwoord van Ph van Cauteren.pdf
D_Antwort von Ph van Cauteren.pdf

Dendermonde, Belgium
2010
charcoal on wall

Invited by Philippe van Cauteren (artistic director S.M.A.K.) I took part in the group exhibition Solo Quint (The Consultation) in the General Hospital St. Blasius, Dendermonde. The 'place of worship' in the hospital is lacking a church tower. Through the whole length of the corridor leading to the Chapel I drew a tower with charcoal. Because the corridor is very long, the drawing (the tower) does not rise to the sky, but is by necessity on its side. About 'The Consultation' I wrote a letter to Philippe van Cauteren (see pdf).

NL_briefaanPhvC_over de raadpleging.pdf