“Art movements come and go, similar to everything which is bound to time and pace. Making a choice from the overwhelming offer of today is far from easy. The speed at which everything evolves, the cultural globalization, technology and communication are sources of inspiration for the contemporary artist. Myself, I am not part of a well defined family, school or movement. My plastic art originates from a journey of discoveries consisting of the interaction of my own person and what exists around me. Not every creative expression is art, however every art form requires craftsmanship, which for many is an old fashioned word. One can not compare apples to lemons, a sculpture is not a conceptual installation, but both call for talent and force. My personal expedition is a long quest for essences, whether I translate them in a classical way or differently. Herein, the central issue is to see through the complexity of being and expressing it in a new, fresh way every time again. Art which sets itself apart manages to express that feeling of higher amazement which we are all familiar with. The quest for this is not a mistake.” (Lucas Van Haegenborgh – 2009)

At first, he wanted to be a vet, then he studied Philosophy and ended up being a sculptor. As the eldest son of a father pediatrician and a mother artist (painter) he was given the first name Lucas, patron saint of both professions. His great-grandfather was the village smith of Rotselaar. His own favourite working material still is metal.

As opposed tot traditional, figurative art, contemporary art takes ‘concept’ as a starting point. Lucas’s philosophical background led him to taking personal points-of-view in this matter, which we see reflected in his work. Well aware of his moral responsibility, he puts his talent into the service and protection of the endangered harmony of mother earth. At the same time, the artist sees creative power as a purpose in itself, a basic ability of every human being, indissolubly linked to love, admiration, conscience and beauty.

Animals are a recurrent theme in his work. However, his educational workshops, a.o. for CANON, the Cultural Unit of the Flemish Ministry of Education, require a broader workingfield.Lucas has the inner need as well as the ability to utter his strong personal power in many different ways. He has a reputation for ‘megasculptures’ that have been realized since the 1980s, but on the other hand, he seeks silence to keep exploring his creative talents.