Driaan Claassen : Insights into the Artist

15 October - 31 December 2025
Don't Lie Bronze on Gioia Marble Base sculpture by Driaan Claassen
Don't Lie
Born from adversity and transformation, Driaan Claassen's art emerged from a landscape of loss and resilience. In the depths of darkness, art became a guiding light - not an escape, but a profound act of renewal.
 
Through sculpture, Claassen discovered a language for healing and self-discovery.
 
His work exists in the space between material and spirit, chaos and order, shadow and light. Each piece serves as both mirror and window - an exploration of consciousness forged through experience and the transformative power of creation.
 

Through sculptures that defy conventional form, Driaan aims to capture this sculptural genesis, where the primal stirrings of awareness transition from the void into being.

 

These pieces reflect the dual nature of consciousness: a realm where tranquility and chaos coexist, inviting viewers to ponder the fluidity and impermanence that define our very essence.

  • Creative Approach

    Drawing from the alchemical tradition of transformation, Claassen approaches sculpture as an intimate dialogue with existence.
     
    His creative process mirrors an internal quest for understanding - where the physical act of making becomes inseparable from the intrinsic search for meaning. This engagement transcends form and material, touching the essence of consciousness itself.
     
    Each artwork marks a stage in an ongoing exploration: from the mysterious origins of thought, to the material crystallization of ideas into physical form.
     
    Claassen recognizes sculpture's power as a universal language - one capable of bridging human divides, and bringing light to our shared experience.
     

     

  • 'At the very heart of our journey lies the enigma of consciousness — a phenomenon both elusive and omnipresent, marking...
    Tell The Truth
    "At the very heart of our journey lies the enigma of consciousness — a phenomenon both elusive and omnipresent, marking the genesis of our mental odyssey.
     
    In my artistic exploration, consciousness emerges not as a mere backdrop but as the vibrant canvas upon which all thought and emotion paint their dance."
     
     
     
     

  • Shadow & Light

    Driaan's artistic practice embodies life's essential dualities - where shadow meets light, chaos finds order, and spontaneity aligns with precision. This interplay of opposites provides not merely a thematic basis, but the foundation of his pursuit of equilibrium, seeking harmony within the convergence of contrasting forces.
     
    Claassen's sculptures - geometric yet infinite; spontaneous yet carefully and deliberately structured - demonstrate mathematical precision born of an exacting search for order. This juxtaposition of control and surrender, of the predictable alongside the boundless, reflects the artist's own navigation between tension and resolution, capturing his own personal journey toward understanding and peace. 
     
    Material choices and surface finishes further articulate this duality. In bronze works, smooth reflective exteriors stand against textured matte interiors, each amplifying the other's complexity.
     
    Beyond aesthetics, this becomes philosophical statement - an acknowledgment of the richness emerging from embracing both poles of existence. Drawing upon wisdom form Carl Jung, Claassen ventures into shadow to illuminate the unseen dimensions of consciousness.
     
    His work engages our capacity for both creation and destruction, weaving narratives that honor the complexity of human experience. It extends an invitation: to recognize and integrate our inner contradictions, discovering beauty in the balance.
  • Tell The Truth bronze sculpture on white Gioia Marble base by Driaan Claassen
    Tell The Truth
    "My story is an ode to the duality that defines us, a celebration of the art that emerges from understanding and harmonizing the myriad aspects of our nature.
     
    In the act of sculpting, I enter a dialogue not just with the material, but with the very essence of existence.
     
    My work is an invitation to see beyond the physicality of art, to understand the transformative power of creating - not just as an act of expression, but as a path to deeper understanding and connection with the universe."

  • Conscience Series

    Driaan's "Conscience" series explores the delicate balance between inner truth and external behavior.
     
    Through sculptures made primarily of bronze, each piece invites the viewer to reflect on the ethical and moral compass that guides human actions. The works are imbued with an almost paradoxical duality - they are both solid and fluid, symbolizing the steadfast yet malleable nature of conscience.
     
    They challenge us to consider the unseen forces that drive honesty, trust, and integrity within ourselves and in our interactions with the world.
     
    These sculptures serve as a meditation on the principles of truth and authenticity, encouraging a deeper understanding of the internal struggles that define human existence. Through their thoughtful construction and evocative form, the "Conscience" series becomes a mirror, reflecting the viewer's own moral dilemmas and the universal quest for truth.
     

  • For Claassen, these sculptures are more than artistic expressions; they are meditations on nature and psyche, offering the same serenity and introspection as a quiet forest, reflecting the profound and quiet dialogue between the material and the mind. 

     

    His work is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a reflection of life’s inherent dualities and the quest for balance amidst contrasting forces.  
     
    Each piece is not just an artwork but a narrative, a guidepost on a journey toward harmony and understanding.
  • Driaan Claassen