Archives — Antoine Dragan Bertrand

Born and based in Brussels/Belgium, Antoine Dragan Bertrand is an artist who works across a range of media including ceramics, typography, illustration, stained glass, and more. His research-based work is anchored in the desire to explore the boundaries between folklore, nature, and fantasy. He finds beauty and interest in combining contemporary drawing and forms with ancient techniques to create unique objects, the fruits of two worlds colliding. He also aspires to develop a practice centered on accessibility and craftsmanship.

Antoine holds a Bachelor's degree in "Plastic, Visual and Spatial Arts: Graphic Design" from the Institut Saint-Luc de Bruxelles (2020) and a Master's degree from the École de Recherche Graphique / École Supérieure des Arts (ERG), in "Plastic, Visual and Spatial Arts: Specialized Graphic Design / Typography and PACS (Artistic Practice and Scientific Complexity)" (2023).

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Below, a excerpt from the conclusion of his Master's thesis called "First Harvests"(2023), a theoretical and personal analysis of Tolkien's text "On Fairy-Stories," addressing the main themes of Antoine’s work: Fantasy, Craftsmanship, and Commitment.

“ Through this exploration, Tolkien taught me that creating fantasy opens the door to altering perceptions of our subject matter and the vitality of doing so. Hayao Miyazaki and Shigeru Miyamoto showed me various mechanisms for shifting these perceptions, leaving me to discover which ones align best with my artistic approach. Willam Morris inspired me to consider the social dimensions of creation, the vital role of joy in an artist's work, and the significance we attribute to our surroundings. Camille Etienne strengthened my resolve to act through my practice and showed me that, with or without Fantasy, it was important to rediscover the magic in our landscapes. Lastly, Ursula Le Guin reaffirmed the crucial importance of imagination and those who cultivate it. “