Piëta
Bronze
71 x 47 x 70 cm
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Brutalistische Aap
Bronze
250 x 260 x 380 cm
“Brutalism is back,” headlined The New York Times on October 6, 2016. The article was about the revival of an architectural style that had long been ignored because it was perceived as bulky, bare and almost inhumane. But after years of postmodernist frills and bloodless corporate office buildings, appreciation for straightforward brutalism is on the rise again.
This is evident in the redevelopment plans for De Bunker, the most outspoken example of Brutalism in the Netherlands and in keeping with the no-nonsense character of the city of Eindhoven. The BunkerTower is literally based on the crude colossus from 1969. That stark foundation turns out to be fertile ground for architectural and urban renewal.
The Brutalistische Aap [Brutalist Monkey] from Atelier Van Lieshout is the suitable mascot for such stylistic durability. Its rough forms are similar to the unfinished concrete of Brutalism, but gently hint at the curves of Art Deco. Strength and zest for life go hand in hand. The geometric shapes that sit on the monkeys body like architectural bulges emphasize the utilitarian rationality that ultimately drives him.
The Brutalist Monkey is a Bokito who doesn’t let himself go crazy. And he is a King Kong who does not hesitate to climb the tower to repel the air attacks of his puny opponents.
Monkey business. Going ape. Monkey see, monkey doo. Making a monkey of someone. Monkeying about. The mammals that are genetically the most closely related to humans are regularly put in the spotlight in the English language. In proverbs and sayings, the word “monkey” almost always carries the implication of unruly behaviour and even wantonness.
But that is a combination that actually fits Brutalism well. The appearance of The Bunker is unpolished and incredibly direct – thus particularly suited to the student groups that were the original users and undoubtedly monkeyed about.
That characterization also applies to the building’s architecture, Huig Maaskant. For his most famous design, the Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam, he provided interior streets so wide that he could drive his own car, an enormous American muscle car, through the building. He silenced critics by saying, “You remind me of my wife. For the last twenty-five years, she has also been looking for shoes that are big on the inside and small on the outside.”
The monumental qualities of Maaskant’s architecture are now widely recognized. The Bunker is even getting a second life as a pedestal for a contemporary tower. It emphasizes the historical value and timeless power of this primal building and conveniently mirrors how we as humans evolutionarily stand on the shoulders of apes.
BunkerToren
John F Kennedylaan 3
5612 AB Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Bussing Boy
Mixed media
108 x 64 x 87 cm
Bussing Boy (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Kelder, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Adult Chair
Mixed media
110 x 80 x 141 cm
Adult Chair (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Fantoom Hoofd met Jongeling
Mixed media
50 x 57 x 139,5
Fantoom Hoofd met Jongeling (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Kelder, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
EHBO, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (NL), 2021 -2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Oma
Mixed media
182 x 53 x 95 cm
Oma (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Freedom
Mixed media
153 x 60 x 80 cm
Freedom (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Never Give Up
Mixed media
327 x 132 x 198 cm
Never Give Up (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Steekwagen
Mixed media
68 x 80 x 189 cm
Steekwagen (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Knee Step
Mixed media
85 x 47 x 105 cm
Knee Step (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
Kelder, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
EHBO, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (NL), 2021 – 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Arianne
Composite
90 x 95 x 215 cm
Since the beginning of modern society, rats have played a role in culture and science. The animals often invoke a sense of fear and horror. Atelier Van Lieshout however would like to stress the positive sides of the rat. They are considered highly intelligent, are adaptive if the environment changes, agile and sensitive, and very able to take care of themselves. Considering these positive notions, one could easily see the human side of the animal. The rat could be envisioned as the animal of the future; an animal that will always be here; an animal that we should look upon as a friend instead of a foe. This is a rat offering his tail , a friendly rat – generous and , makes himself vulnerable by offering his own tail.
Arianne (2019) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘Dysfunctional‘, Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Venice (IT), 2019
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Caretaker Side Table
Bronze
160 x 60 x 160 cm
Caretaker Side Table (2019) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Harmonious Contradiction, MASA x Sothebys, New York (US), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Hospital Bed
Mixed media
340 x 160 x 240 cm
Hospital Bed belongs to the series ‘Le Voyage’, a group of works that together speak about a journey to a better world, a place beyond the horizon where the grass is always greener. The fictional pioneers follow their hearts and the flimsiest of gameplans: anything goes and let’s see what happens. They have no clue where they are going, but they are going, roaming in search of paradise or the next utopia, ready for anything. Their expedition gear take all-purpose and all-inclusive to the next level. Why make a selection when you can bring absolutely everything, from questionable toolkits, an overly large cooking station to a shrine and prosthetics. Luxury is found in abundance, not in quality: the packs are made with suboptimal materials and assembled in a happily chaotic manner.
Hospital Bed (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Light in the Darkness, Krinzinger Schottenfeld, Vienna (AT), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
The Beginning of Everything Lamp
Mixed media
54 x 87 x 201 cm
The Beginning of Everything Lamp (2020) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Light in the Darkness, Krinzinger Schottenfeld, Vienna (AT), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Human
Bronze
68 x 68 x 180 cm
Human (2019) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Light in the Darkness, Krinzinger Schottenfeld, Vienna (AT), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Mani-Festo Lamp
Wood
32 x 32 x 151 cm
Mani-Festo Lamp (2020) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Light in the Darkness, Krinzinger Schottenfeld, Vienna (AT), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Twins
Mixed media
28 x 78 x 184 cm
Since his beginnings, Joep van Lieshout has chased, changed and shaped the borders of art, design and architecture. In his latest series, RENEGADE, instead of performing the act of either artist or designer, Van Lieshout turns any object that he gets his hands on – even his own existing sculptures – into a designer lamp. Making every work as (in)valuable as the other. With RENEGADE, being both functional and accessible, Van Lieshout defines art on his own terms, and challenges the market while giving it what it wants.
Twins (2019) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Light in the Darkness, Krinzinger Schottenfeld, Vienna (AT), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Covid-19
Mixed media
300 x 110 x 162 cm
Covid-19 (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
Kelder, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Easy Up Chair
Mixed media
100 x 148 x 137 cm
Easy Up Chair (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Asher
Mixed media
100 x 95 x 136 cm
Asher (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Moonsuits
Mixed media
55 x 105 x 190 cm
Moonsuits (2010) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Wooden Lung
Mixed media
250 x 80 x 230 cm
Wooden Lung (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Le Voyage, Le Portique, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
The Beginning of Everything on Concrete Base
Fiberglass
105 x 105 x 252 cm
The Beginning of Everything on Concrete Base (2022)
was part of the following exhibition(s):
Rooftop Installation, ROOF-A, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Thor
Mixed media
250 x 60 x 265 cm
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Des Duivels Wandelstok
Mixed media
360 x 90 x 250 cm
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Dance
Fiberglass
240 x 240 x 250 cm
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Victory
Mixed media
120 x 243 x 254 cm
Victory (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Fake Me Hard, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2021
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Hamer
Wood, steel
635 x 290 x 210 cm
Hamer (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘De Verleiding‘, Bosch Parade, ‘s Hertogenbosch (NL), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Tronende Moeder
Bronze
38 x 40 x 60 cm
Of all the saints, Mary became the most popular in Christianity during the Middle Ages. She was depicted countless times, often as the virgin with the young Christ child in her lap. She embodies hope and love, much needed qualities in the millennium between the end of the Western Roman Empire and the dawn of the Renaissance.
The Dark Ages are often viewed as a period of regression. The artistic knowledge that enabled the ancient Greeks and Romans to create perfectly sculpted bodies had been lost. Nevertheless, the primitive Medieval Marys with child have great emotional power in Joep van Lieshout’s eyes. His own version is an ode to that primal expressivity made from amateur-grade materials by purposely denying academic skills.
Tronende Moeder (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘Utopia‘, Château Saint-Maur, Saint Tropez (FR), 2022
EHBO, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (NL), 2021 – 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Knights
Steel
L: 115 x 50 x 168 cm
S: 88 x 33 x 104 cm
Knights (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘Utopia‘, Château Saint-Maur, Saint Tropez (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Descent
Bronze
95 x 70 x 115 cm
Descent (2013) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘Utopia‘, Château Saint-Maur, Saint Tropez (FR), 2022
‘Art Bogota‘, Bogota (CO), 2014
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Muze
Fiberglass
72 x 50 x 174 cm
Muze (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘Utopia‘, Château Saint-Maur, Saint Tropez (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Fertility
Fiberglass
75 x 80 x 245 cm
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
The Whale
COR-ten steel
1300 x 430 x 400 cm
The Whale rests on the shore, not unlike the catch brought in by the whalers of centuries past. The majestic animal will not be dissected for blubber to fuel lamps or grease machinery, however, as it’s made of steel. It appears more similar to a barge, than a marine mammal.
The Whale is Atelier Van Lieshout’s salute to nature’s power, human technological ingenuity and the ways these often clash. Moreover, it’s a life-size reference to Moby Dick, the world’s most famous whale. In Joep van Lieshout’s view, Moby Dick is a tale of revenge and the struggle of man, personified by Captain Ahab vs. nature. It’s rather telling that in the end, man – who considers himself above nature -is defeated by the forces he tries to control and master.
Van Lieshout’s The Whale is Ahab’s nemesis and Old Testaments Jonah’s organic prison rolled into one. The animal has outsmarted its pursuers, but has also partly become them by transforming into a welded steel hulk. Holes in its side allow people to look into its belly, where one sees a figure in the middle of the whale. This could be Jonah praying for his salvation or a present-day Ahab pondering his warped relationship with nature.
The Whale (2022) was part of the following exhibition(s):
‘Arts Le Havre‘, Le Havre (FR), 2022
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
La Masseuse
Bronze
60 x 50 x 39 cm
For a long time already rats have played a role in culture and science. Where the animals often invoke a sense of fear and horror, Atelier Van Lieshout would like to stress their positive sides. They are considered highly intelligent, are adaptive if the environment changes, agile and sensitive, and very able to take care of themselves. And of others. A friend that looks out for its peers and gives them a little squeeze when needed.
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com
Body Armour
Mixed media
50 x 48 x 197 cm
Body Armour (2021) was part of the following exhibition(s):
Kelder, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2022
EHBO, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (NL), 2021 – 2022
Fake Me Hard, BRUTUS, Rotterdam (NL), 2021
For enquiries: please contact Atelier Van Lieshout via info@ateliervanlieshout.com