'cloaca No. 5' is a mechanized sculpture that reproduces the human digestive system
in every stomach-churning detail. it is part of an exhibition which runs until valentine's day at the
universite du quebec's art gallery in montreal.



cloaca, a towering steel, rubber and glass contraption, is fed twice a day
with cafeteria leftovers during the exhibit. it is part of an exchange with the
alberta college of art and design, which presented cloaca No. 5 in calgary last summer.



'I wanted to make something that is absurdly unnecessary...'
creator, the belgian artist wim delvoye explained his creative process:
'I don't think this biologically correct machine belongs in a science museum.
I don't have that ego. I'm not helping sick people. I'm practically useless in society.'


at the end of the tract, the machine produces feces, which are then vacuum-packed

delvoye has exhibited around the world and a previous model of cloaca was on
display in toronto in 2004.originally developed in 2000, he put together a complex machinery
at the museum of contemporary art in antwerp, belgium.
see all cloaca machines by wim delvoye