atelier van lieshout: new tribal labyrinth

‘l’origine du monde’, 2011 aluminium ca. 104 x 158 x 70 cm image © designboom

atelier van lieshout: new tribal labyrinth gió marconi gallery, milan on now until january 14th, 2012

‘new tribal labyrinth’ is a presentation of 14 new works by dutch studio atelier van lieshout (AVL). continuing the exploration of recurring themes of work organization, power structures and autarky, this exhibition implies the emergence of a new tribal administration.

moving towards more sculptural pieces in recent years, through the use of diverse mediums from plastic, foam fiberglass, wood, steel and bronze, AVL’s new body of work reflects the advanced and complex society of today, whereby over-consumption and limited raw materials have come to play a crucial role in our existence. these changes will result in the emergence of various new cultures in the near future, in which groups of people will organize themselves according to tribe rather than by country, and nationalities will establish themselves. as our resources are exhausted, society will see harshening relationships between individuals, and the increased survival instinct which raises questions about whether such radical changes, coupled with violence, may potentially lead us to a new society, good or bad.

installation view of ‘cow’, ‘panta rhei’ and ‘buffel’ image © designboom

‘cow’, 2011 foam, fiberglass ca. 120 x 315 x 83 cm image © designboom

detail of ‘cow’ image © designboom

torso of ‘cow’ image © designboom

installation view of ‘tribe’, ‘dog on pedestal’ and ‘cow’ image © designboom

‘dog on pedestal’, 2011 foam, fiberglass, wood, beer crates ca. 65 x 125 x 135 cm image © designboom

left: ‘hieronimus’, 2011, foam, fiberglass, ca. 113 x 91 x 61 cm right: ‘eénling’, 2011, foam, fiberglass, ca. 201 x 70 x 60 cm image © designboom

‘eénling’, 2011 foam, fiberglass ca. 201 x 70 x 60 cm images © designboom

‘the farm’, 2011 foam, japanese ricepaper, fiberglass ca. 165 x 150 x 148 cm image © designboom

‘farm’ detail image © designboom

‘dwelling’, 2011 bronze, wood ca. 158 x 105 x 75 cm image © designboom

‘dwelling’ detail image © designboom

‘sarcofaag’, 2011 foam, fiberglass, polurea ca. 145 x 245 x 185 cm image © designboom

foreground: ‘sarcofaag’ background: ‘couple’ image © designboom

‘couple’, 2011 foam, polurea ca. 130 x 207 x 105 cm image © designboom

general view through the gallery spaces image © designboom

‘body bar’, 2011 foam, textile, fiberglass ca. 125 x 190 x 120 cm image © designboom

detail of ‘body bar’ image © designboom

‘friends’, 2011 bronze 29 x 33 x 25 cm image © designboom

up close of ‘friends’ image © designboom

‘gastronomy’, 2011 bronze ca. 68 x 115 x 60 cm image © designboom

‘gastronomy’ detail image © designboom

‘swing’, 2011 bronze ca. 54 x 71 x 35 cm image © designboom