Atelier Van Lieshout

In the summer of 2005 the sculpture garden of Kröller Müller Museum is transformed into the Happy Forest, an exhibition by Atelier Van Lieshout.

A large section of the sculpture garden, including the events’ terrain and the adjacent sculpture forest, is adorned with ‘organ sculptures’ and mobile homes of brightly coloured polyester – a trademark of AVL – that bear titles such as Workshop for Weapons and Bombs, Wombhouse, Skull and Septic tanks. All the works are allowed to be touched and often even entered. Wombhouse, for example, is equipped with a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and a minibar.

‘The autarkic nature of AVL’s work’ is particularly emphasized in the exhibition. Although works of art, the mobile units all have a functional use that is aimed at an independent and self-sufficient existence. For example, the sculptures represent alternative possibilities for generating energy, processing waste and there is a farm with chickens, rabbits and sheep.