- Interior
An artist with a deep respect for materials and a strong minimalist aesthetic, An Selen evokes a unique and timeless universe with her works. She developed an artistic vision deeply rooted in the purity and simplicity of architecture and nature. Her studies in interior architecture at the prestigious Henri van de Velde Hogeschool in Antwerp taught her not only the technical side of design, but also the philosophy behind the architectural luminaries of minimalism, such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. Their approach to the ‘less is more’ principle would guide the rest of her artistic career and become an essential part of her art.
After completing her education, An Selen started working as an interior designer, where she spent 12 years completing projects for prestigious real estate developers worldwide. These experiences took her to places like Courchevel, Mougins, Paris and Dubai, which gave her a cosmopolitan outlook but at the same time kept her with both feet on the ground. Despite the glamour and luxury of these high-end projects, it was her love for simple, authentic materials and the beauty of imperfection that inspired her. For her, true beauty is not in smooth surfaces, but rather in the unpolished, the rough, the signs of age and decay. ‘Rust, cracks and scratches, have a character of their own and bear the marks of a simpler time,’ we hear from her. In her search for an artistic voice, experimenting with various materials became an essential part of her creative process. Selen often works with lightweight concrete panels, which give her more freedom to create organic forms and achieve depth without restrictions. 
For her, art is not about the perfect finish, but the beauty of imperfection.The holes, nicks and rough surfaces ‘finish’ the work for her. By combining concrete with natural pigments from places like Umbria and Bohemia, she brings a subtle connection to the earth into her artworks. She derives satisfaction from knowing that these colours come from natural minerals, sometimes millions of years old, which add a unique value and historical dimension to her works. As for her creative process, An Selen believes that a design does not start with a blank canvas, but with the idea of something still searching for its existence form. This constant process of experimentation and discovery is a reflection of her own inner growth and search for depth and meaning. The material and natural processes are central to her work; for example, the rusting process, where iron particles react with acid, causing the oxidation process to slowly develop. For her, this is a fascinating process, as the work seems to create itself, a dialogue between the material and nature. The same goes for the craquelé process, where a homemade paste creates natural cracks in the surface, symbolising the fragility of life.
‘For me, design is all about the emotional interaction and dialogue with the object'
For An, design and art are not just aesthetics or functionality, but a profound emotional interaction. Her art does not evoke words, but a feeling, an experience. When people look at her work, she wants them not to analyse it rationally, but to let it sink in. Looking at her art is like a conversation without words, an invitation to feel, reflect, and find a personal interpretation. The minimalist nature of her work creates a quiet space for introspection and calm, a counterpoint to the hectic, consumer-driven world we live in. Although she is a passionate worker, she also values the freedom and flexibility of her craft. The luxury of being able to get away spontaneously, without a boss's permission, and to approach her work as a way of life rather than a job, are invaluable to her. For An, creativity is a lifestyle, a way to connect with her inner world while discovering something new about herself and her surroundings.In her studio, she creates her own universe, a space where she can fully immerse herself in the process of experimentation and be surprised by the result.
Curious about the whole article? Read more in the October edition of Imagicasa. Available via our webshop!
Start image by Olivier Ceulemans
Images 2-4 by An Selen
Image 5 by Olivier Ceulemans
Text by Elke Aerts