Hans Arkeveld
Hans Arkeveld is one of Western Australia's most important artists and his contribution to the arts in Australia has been of great significance. His career, spanning over fifty years, has included positions as a respected teacher in many major art instructions in Perth, and also in the long-standing position as the Artist in Residence in the Human Anatomy Department at the University of Western Australia. This special position has allowed him access to a range of scientific and biological materials, methods and theories, which are all evident in his work, and here he has been able to refine his remarkable skills in anatomical drawing and sculpting which are so characteristic of his style. There is great refinement and elegance in Arkeveld’s work and his style is often compared to that of Leonardo da Vinci for its technical precision and sympathetic expression of the human form. His work appeals to a range of audiences and has been an influence to generations of artists practising in Perth since the 1960’s. His style has also been associated with the development of a particular aesthetic in the field of sculpture in Western Australia. Arkeveld works in a variety of materials including bronze, plaster, wire, and any other material that catches his eye, in addition to being an accomplished drawer and painter. His work is housed in many private and public collections in Australia, and he is a prolific maker with a respected place in Australian history. His work will appreciate consistently and represents a wise financial investment. However, the purchase of an Arkeveld will be far more meaningful than its fiscal value, as it will fortify the value of the other artworks in the Collection.