SECONDARY EDUCATION : Small but mighty
Interactive tour for secondary education in the exhibition 'Statuettes. Small sculptures at home'
What makes something a work of art? Does art have to be large, impressive and monumental?
Or can it also be small, portable and surprisingly personal?
In the exhibition Statuettes. Small Sculptures at Home, students discover a lesser-known yet fascinating side of sculpture: small sculptures created for everyday life, in the home. Figurines placed on a mantelpiece, cupboard or in a display cabinet often reveal more than you might expect at first glance.
During this tour, students engage with sculptures made of bronze, plaster, wood, stone and porcelain – from 1880 to the present day. They discover how small sculptures have taken on different roles over time: as religious objects, personal mementoes, decorative pieces, collectible items or playful artistic statements. The guide invites students to reflect on scale, materials, versions and value, and on how small sculpture can also become part of a still life in transformation.
From artists such as Oscar Jespers, Marthe Donas and Constant Permeke to contemporary voices like Aline Bouvy and Pascale Marthine Tayou, the exhibition shows how small sculpture evolves alongside social change and shifting ways of living, collecting and looking.
The tour is interactive and connects with the world of young people and their search for identity. Which objects function as status symbols? Which objects do you want to be seen with — or rather not at all? We also explore current trends, such as the popularity of soft toys for all ages, which offer comfort and a sense of warmth.
What will students learn?
An introduction to sculpture beyond the monumental context
Insight into materials, scale and reproduction
Critical reflection on art, value and context
Active observation, comparison and discussion
The content and working methods are adapted to the students’ age, study programme and prior knowledge.
Practical information
Target group: Secondary education
Duration: 1.5 hours
Price: €80 per guide
Students and accompanying teachers: free admission
Group size: max. 25 students per guide
Languages: Dutch, French, English or German
Location: Venetian Galleries, Ostend
A school visit that proves art does not have to be monumental to make a lasting impression.