atelier van lieshout: infernopolis

'infernopolis'
submarine wharf, rotterdam
may 29 - september 26, 2010
 

'darwin' 2008
polyester
1300cm x 1000cm x 260cm
systems and organs
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'infernopolis' is atelier van lieshout's latest exhibition taking place at an abandoned
submarine wharf in rotterdam, netherlands. organized by the port of rotterdam and
the museum boijmans van beuningen, this inaugural exhibition addresses issues that
are central to atelier van lieshout’s practice including autonomy, self-sufficiency, power
and the economy. in the submarine wharf, with an area of almost 5000m2,
atelier van lieshout – established by the rotterdam-based artist joep van lieshout in
1995 – is exhibiting two immense installations and a forest of sculptures. together these
elements form a terrifying setting in which the leading role is played by medical instruments,
vacuum pumps, flayed bodies, human excrement, giant sperm cells and bodily organs.



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according to lieshout, visitors to ‘infernopolis’ move among sinister installations and
tableaux in which the distinctions between good and evil, life and death, and reality and
fiction are meant to be erased.




detail
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'bikinibar', 2006
polyester
950 cm x 600 cm x 300 cm
systems and organs
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'wombhouse', 2004
polyester
630 cm x 236 cm x 212 cm
systems and organs
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the enormous sculptures represent individual body parts but also interconnected,
internal organs.

'I like to work with organs in order to show something of the beauty of our insides
and the system behind it' - AVL



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although the organ sculptures are anatomically correct and give us an insight into how
the human body is designed, their meaning is to be found, above all, in the similarities
between large, coordinated models (society) and intimate, personal systems
(the body and its organs). the digestive system, for instance, bears comparison with the
world at large, which also consumes and produces. both of these elements are
fused in the architectural work 'barrectum'. this work, which represents the chain or organs
in the digestive system (from tongue to anus), is designed as a play for drinking beer.



wineholder embedded in the right ovary
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toilet embedded in the left ovary
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bed inside the womb
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'barrectum' 2005
polyester
800 cm x 800 cm x 250 cm
systems and organs
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rectal opening with lumps
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interior of 'barrectum'
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'penis S, M, XL', 2003
polyester
175 cm x 65 cm x 90 cm
206 cm x 80 cm x 123 cm
350 cm x 175 cm x 205 cm
systems and organs
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detail of 'penis' small
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'operation', 2007
polyester
systems and organs
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detail
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'the grinder', 2009
foam, polyester, paper-maché, varnish
200 cm x 200 cm x 175 cm
cradle to cradle
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a series of sculptures under the theme of 'cradle to cradle' part of the infernopolis exhibition
takes the principle that human waste can be food to the extreme. here the machine recycles
everything, even people. this means that old materials are used to form new products without
loss of quality or waste products.



detail
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'cradle to cradle' consists of an anatomical theatre, a semi - industrial slaughterhouse and
a high-tech operating room. bones, skulls, muscle groups and organs lie on table and
flayed bodies hang from rails. in a model of efficiency, the organs are used for transplants,
while the flesh, fluids, fat and bones are processed into meat. the remainder is used to
harvest energy.



'operating room'
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'operating chair'
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'hanging men', 2009
foam, papier- maché, varnish
210 cm x 67 cm x 40 cm
cradle to cradle
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detail
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'uomo analyticus', 2009
foam, papier-maché, varnish
160 cm x 115 cm x 210 cm
cradle to cradle
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'open bell woman', 2009
foam, papier- maché, varnish
140 cm x 85 cm x 75 cm
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detail
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'untitled'. 2010
foam, horseskeleton steel, paverpol, japanese ricepaper, blood
400 cm x 300 cm x 400 cm
heroic sculptures
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one part of the submarine wharf contains atelier van lieshout's most recent pieces under
the theme title 'heroic scuptures'. the prancing horse and the large, abstracted cannon (WWIII)
were made in 2010 as a monument dedicated to both war and heroism.



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for lieshout, the sculptures reflect upon our extremely advanced and complex society.
in which over-consumption and limited raw materials play a crucial role. he believes
that this will lead to the emergence of various new cultures in the foreseeable future.
once supplies are exhausted society will see a harshening of relations between people and
increased survival instinct according to him. this raises the question whether such radical
changes, which are coupled with violence but which may also lead to a new, improved society,
are good or bad.



side view
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'WW III', 2010
wood, steel, polyurea
1250 cm x 250 cm x 450 cm
heroic sculptures
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'arschmanner', 2004
polyester, plastic
430 cm x 350 cm x 55cm
the technocrat
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another section of his show titled 'the technocrat' comprises all manner of apparatus,
containers, beds and distillation vats. together they form a closed circuit of food, alcohol,
excrement and energy.



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overview of 'the technocrat' network
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'autocomposter', 2003
polyester, steel
180 cm x 180 cm x 560 cm
the technocrat
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'the feeder'
the tehcnocrat
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'storage unit for liquids', 2003
steel, polyester
the technocrat
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'large sinks', 2003
staal polyester
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'scale', 2003
steel, polyester
the technocrat
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'containers', 2003
polyester
the technocrat
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'cooker', 2003
stainless steel
the technocrat
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'vegetable cutter', 2003
steel, polyester
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'tubes'
the technocrat
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'the participants'
the technocrat
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