‘dead shark’, toy shark oil and polymer 60 x 20 x 20 cm all images courtesy of stefan gross

stefan gross on show in ‘sustainable trash’ harlan levey gallery, brussels, belgium on now until january 29th, 2012

‘plastination’ sculptural works by german-born and netherlands-based artist stefan gross are on display in the ‘sustainable trash’ exhibition at harlan levey gallery in brussels. his melted plastic statues are formed from found objects– in this instance, childrens plastic toys. the grittiness of the collection may be observed in the sort of scientific approach gross employs in his practice of filling each toy with plastic organs to then spill as the innards of the disemboweled objects. the colorful works are moulded by stefan gross by adding polymer and oil to discarded toys in order to recreate a familiar, lighthearted object as something weighted, deadly and serious.

‘the world is a serious place these days. this problem I address with my work.‘ -stefan gross

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘horse’ toy horse 20 x 15cm x 8 cm

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘horse’ toy horse 20 x 15cm x 8 cm

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘german soldier 1:16’ polymer and oil

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘back from holiday’ oil, polymer 30 x 30 x 30 cm

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘rhino’ polymer and oil 20 x 15 x 5 cm collection gook im, korea

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘horse and cart’ oil and polymer 75 x 35 x 25 cm

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross ‘rabbit of the caribbean’ polymer, oil 12cm x 10 cm

melted plastic sculptures by stefan gross a furby toy refurbished made from oil and polymer

via i love belgium