levi van veluw examines religion’s visual language through personal contemplation

levi van veluw presents a combination of sculpture and charcoal drawings in his paris show, titled ‘veneration,’ at la galerie particuliere on view until november 18th, 2017. the exhibition explores, ‘the visual language used in religious contexts and creates an entirely new and singular religious dimension through the use of recognizable symbolisms.’ a hodgepodge of different religious symbols, the interpretation is left to the viewer, exposing the human desire to make things tangible and assign meaning to objects. through personal contemplation and interaction with the works, the artworks deliver a personal message that is determined by the given context of the one’s own spiritual beliefs. 

levi van veluw show titled ‘veneration’ is on view in paris until the middle of october

at the center of the gallery space sits a large blue, rectangular box made up of vertical upright blocks, titled ‘chapel.’ it is described as an installation for which ‘van veluw plays with a variety of archetypal religious elements that seduce the spectator into exposing themselves to a new faith of sorts.’ the mystical and contemplative powers of the artwork are enhanced by allowing the light to enter the ‘chapel’ through an oculus, shedding light onto an altar-like element below.

the chapel, 2017

one of the most interesting aspects of the artist’s works is his use of carefully designed grids, an optically intriguing feature found in both the sculptures and the charcoal drawings. this complex and deliberate use of texture holds the viewer’s eye and can be almost mesmerizing. 

one of the main features present in both the sculpture and charcoal drawings is the carefully designed grid

guider of veneration, wood and ink, 2017

guider of veneration, wood and ink, 2017

guider of veneration, wood and ink, 2017

sanctum, wood and ink, 2017

sanctum, wood and ink, 2017

the installation exposes the human desire to make things tangible and assign meaning to objects

temple, 2017

purify, 2017

sanctuary, 2017

oratory, 2017

polyptych, 2017