Maximus Sculptor

Edition Five Feature
Words by Maxime Van Besien
Location: De Haan, Belgium
Photo Credit: ©Maxime Van Besien & ©Gianni Vanlangendock @gvl_media

You will find me today in a small workshop in De Haan, a village on Belgium’s coastline, which is where I was born and raised. My surroundings are my source of inspiration: away from man-made noise, you can hear the waves landing on the beach, or you can find yourself in the heart of a forest. My name is Maximus, and I am a sculptor.

The creation of wooden sculptures is the result of my many years of passion for wood. It started from a young age at school, where I learned the craft of general woodworking. Specialising in carpentry and furniture design, I wanted to elevate my potential with wood. After a year of historical furniture restoration and learning lathe work, I was eager to learn more about what was possible. Grateful to have such an amazing parent who supported my interest in wood, I sought and found my next big opportunity that would change my life and push my limits once more. I was accepted into Institut Saint-Luc Tournai, an art college in Tournai, Belgium.

Institut Saint-Luc is part of a long tradition of education in general and art in particular, and has been seen as one of the best schools in Europe. It’s also where my nickname – and now artist name – ‘Maximus’ came from. It was given to me by my carving teacher. You could imagine him like John Keating, as played by Robin Williams, in Dead Poets Society (1989). He is the captain of every student that he teaches too: “O Captain, my Captain”. Even on my travels, I’ve been called Maximus when meeting other sculptors and friends. So, I kept it.

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