Dirk Zoete

Drawing forms the core of Zoete’s oeuvre. He always starts from observation drawings of things that cross his path, like a cactus, a landscape or the human form. Influenced by the theatre sets and costumes of the German Bauhaus and Russian Constructivism of the 1920s, Zoete organizes happenings in his studio in which actors in imaginative costumes pose in front of his camera. Their masks are based on self-portraits from the artist. His drawings are the two-dimensional reports of those events.

From these observations on paper, Zoete lets his imagination run free. He remodels them over and over, until they have evolved into drawings that are far removed from the reality they were originally based on. The artist refuses to determine an absolute, finished form. On the contrary: he is constantly searching for ways of improvement and shows all stadia of his learning process to the viewer. Along the way, Zoete lets himself be guided by chance and coincidence. Although the simplicity of pencil on paper gives him the freedom required for his improvisational method, Zoete also appeals to other media. His drawings can give rise to performances, sculptures, photographs and vice versa.

biography

Born in Roeselare, Belgium in 1969
Lives and works in Ghent, Belgium

Go to publications

Dirk Zoete - Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Dirk Zoete - Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Pigment, chalk and pencil on paper, 30 x 21 cm
Dirk Zoete - July 01, 2020, Pigment, colored pencil and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - July 01, 2020, Pigment, colored pencil and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm

The drawings that ensue from this practice, have a naive and schematic character. The panoramic landscapes and village scenes are made up of a few simple, clear lines. The views on fields and acres – Zoete comes from a farmers family, hence the recurrence of these themes – have a total lack of depth and perspective. The architectural settings never outgrow the schematic design phase. Furthermore, Zoete’s human figures are far-reaching geometric abstractions, deprived from any individual features. Their faces are mere masks, with triangular- and rectangular shaped mouths and noses. Both humans and their environment are exclusively shown in frontal view; they stay façades, that never truly come to life. This two-dimensionality is reflected in Zoete’s sculptures, with their unfinished back sides. These constructions, often existing of metal frames, concrete and removable colour areas, also present themselves frontally to the viewer.

The almost childish drawing style and abstraction add to the enigmatic, sometimes morbid nature of Zoete’s universe, filled with surrealistic scenes depicting an absurd company of characters, primitive animals and their attributes.

Dirk Zoete - March 02, 2022, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - March 02, 2022, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - February 10, 2021, Pigment and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - February 10, 2021, Pigment and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - February 11, 2021, Pigment, colored pencil and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - February 11, 2021, Pigment, colored pencil and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - March 09, 2022, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - March 09, 2022, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - March 11, 2020, Pigment, oil pastel and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - March 11, 2020, Pigment, oil pastel and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - June 18, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - June 18, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - December 02, 2020, Pigment and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - December 02, 2020, Pigment and chalk on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - June 07, 2020
Dirk Zoete - June 07, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - June 03, 2020
Dirk Zoete - June 03, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - July 06, 2020
Dirk Zoete - July 06, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - July 05, 2020
Dirk Zoete - July 05, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - July 08, 2020
Dirk Zoete - July 08, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - July 10, 2020
Dirk Zoete - July 10, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - August 10, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - August 10, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - August 08, 2020
Dirk Zoete - August 08, 2020, Colored chalk, pigment, pencil and oil pastel on paper, 42 x 30 cm
Dirk Zoete - Thursday, June 27, 2019
Dirk Zoete - Thursday, June 27, 2019, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 30 x 21 cm
Dirk Zoete - Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Dirk Zoete - Wednesday, October 2, 2019, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 30 x 21 cm
Dirk Zoete - Friday, July 5, 2019
Dirk Zoete - Friday, July 5, 2019, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 30 x 21 cm
Dirk Zoete - Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Dirk Zoete - Wednesday, November 13, 2019, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 30 x 21 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.18, 2020, Color chalk on paper, 32 x 23 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.18, 2020, Color chalk on paper, 32 x 23 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.98, 2021, Color chalk, pigment, charcoal on paper, 32 x 23 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.98, 2021, Color chalk, pigment, charcoal on paper, 32 x 23 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.149, 2021, Color chalk, pigment, charcoal on paper, 46 x 32 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.18, 2020, Color chalk on paper, 32 x 23 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.121, 2021, Color chalk, pigment, charcoal on paper, 46 x 32 cm
Dirk Zoete - Po. nr.98, 2021, Color chalk, pigment, charcoal on paper, 32 x 23 cm
Dirk Zoete - Mr. Silence, 2023, Metal and plasticrate, 90 x 28 x 19 cm
Dirk Zoete - Mr. Silence, 2023, Metal and plasticrate, 90 x 28 x 19 cm
Dirk Zoete - Gardener, 2023, Metal and plasticrate, 92 x 38 x 15 cm
Dirk Zoete - Gardener, 2023, Metal and plasticrate, 92 x 38 x 15 cm
Dirk Zoete - Costume and atributes A, 2018
Dirk Zoete - Costume and atributes A, 2018, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 46 x 32 cm
Dirk Zoete - Costume and atributes B, 2018
Dirk Zoete - Costume and atributes B, 2018, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 46 x 32 cm
Dirk Zoete - The practical kitchen 1, 2018
Dirk Zoete - The practical kitchen 1, 2018, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper
Dirk Zoete - The practical kitchen 1B, 2018
Dirk Zoete - The practical kitchen 1B, 2018, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 46 x 32 cm
Dirk Zoete - Sketches on a wooden wall, 2014
Dirk Zoete - Sketches on a wooden wall, 2014, Pencil on paper, 73 x 110 cm
Dirk Zoete - Wooden wall, 2013
Dirk Zoete - Wooden wall, 2013, Pencil on paper, 73 x 110 cm
Dirk Zoete - Panoramic Landscape 3, 2017
Dirk Zoete - Panoramic Landscape 3, 2017, Pencil on paper, 103 x 240 cm
Dirk Zoete - Panoramic Landscape 2, 2017
Dirk Zoete - Panoramic Landscape 2, 2017, Pencil on paper, 103 x 240 cm
Dirk Zoete - Red Landscape B, 2018
Dirk Zoete - Red Landscape B, 2018, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 32 x 46 cm
Dirk Zoete - Industrial landscape 1A, 2018
Dirk Zoete - Industrial landscape 1A, 2018, (Colored) pencil and pigment on paper, 32 x 46 cm
Dirk Zoete - Mr. Courage stands firmly, 2017
Dirk Zoete - Mr. Courage stands firmly, 2017, Metal, concrete and wood (custom made on location), 238 x 115 x 86 cm
Dirk Zoete - With some doubt. But present, 2017
Dirk Zoete - With some doubt. But present, 2017, Metal, concrete and wood
Dirk Zoete - Untitled 2 (plaster mask), 2019
Dirk Zoete - Untitled 2 (plaster mask), 2019, Plaster, band iron, metal, wood, wool, 80 x 30 x 3 cm
Dirk Zoete - Untitled, Plaster Mask 12, 2019
Dirk Zoete - Untitled, Plaster Mask 12, 2019, Plaster, metal, wood, 40 x 38 x 5 cm