Griet Dobbels is a visual artist. She began her professional career in 1996 after graduating from The Royal College of Art in London. 

Key concepts in her work are: the dialectic between grandeur and insignificance, transience and timelessness, nature and culture, beauty and horror, safety and danger, chaos and control, universality and individuality. Formally, these subjects translate into various media: drawings, video installations, sculptures and happenings. Dobbels explores boundaries, both in terms of content and form, and strives for an objective position.

The line is a constant in her work, be it the contour line, the coast line, the front line or a border. This line is exposed, excavated, walked, drawn or cut-and-pasted.

Griet Dobbels has exhibited nationally and internationally and has undertaken a number of significant residences, including at the Al Ma’mal Foundation, Old city Jerusalem and Birzeit University (2022-2023), the Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto in 2017-18. Her work can be seen in the contexts of museums, arts centres, arts festivals, public spaces or as part of diverse private initiatives. Since 2014, Els Vermeersch (Art historian and curator) is her Compagnon d’art.

In spring 2023 she was able to finalize the residency at Al Ma’mal Foundation (Old City Jerusalem) and Bethlehem (PS) for the implementation of the art video The Cow and the Goat (in collaboration with poet Lotte Dodion) that has been on view at Watou Art Festival 2023, Emergent Gallery Veurne and KVS Brussels.

She is currently conducting research for the ongoing project Trillingen / Vibrations in collaboration with artist Cesar Janssens (Jr.c.E.sA.r, KVS Brussels). As part of this research the performance Vissers van de Horizon(Fishers of the Horizon), has been shown at the theatre festival TAZ#2023, Ostend (B). The installation Clay Front is on view as part of the group show ‘Remain / Remember’ at Westfront, Newport (B). More upcoming shows see underneath. © Els Vermeersch

Photo: © Krant van West-Vlaanderen