lionel estève: there are no circles

lionel estève: there are no circles fondation d’enterprise hermès, brussels on now until july 2nd, 2011

‘there are no circles’ by lionel estève photo © fabien de cugnac

french-born brussels-based artist lionel estève is known for working with minimal materials – tiny items like thread, plastic beads, straws etc., transforming them into what seems to be troubling constellations of color, phantasmagorical planets.

his installation ‘there are no circles’ is a five-metre diameter, spherical structure whose form is constructed from a frame of braided white fishing net – delicate and almost non-existent in presence, but strong and flexible regardless. it is attached to posts approximately three metres tall within the la verrière, fondation d’enerprise hermès in brussels. it features a small motor that spins and spreads the the giant spider-like sculpture out as it rotates. overall, its diameter extends to six or seven metres when in motion. it moves slowly, free in the light, giving visitors the strong physical sense of vertigo, as if he were exchanging souls with the artist. the web-like installation consists of white threads beaded with colorful, plastic baubles appearing almost as if they are floating in space.

overall view photo © fabien de cugnac

thousands of colorful plastic baubles are strung onto cascading threads overall, forming a sphere photo © fabien de cugnac

the installation in motion photo © fabien de cugnac

the web-like structure and its threads which form a sculpture of 5 metres in diameter photo © fabien de cugnac

‘there are no circles’ in full motion photo © fabien de cugnac

installation view at la verrière photo © fabien de cugnac

full view photo © fabien de cugnac

up close look at the colorful baubles photo © fabien de cugnac