Key takeaways
- Berlinde De Bruyckere is a Belgian artist known for her captivating sculpture that blends mythology and Belgian heritage.
- Her work is influenced by the Flemish Renaissance painting and involves experimenting with malleable materials.
- De Bruyckere's sculptures feature hybrid forms with human, animal, and plant features that reflect the dialectics between current affairs and universal parables.
- She has gained international recognition and has featured her work in various exhibitions, including the 55th Venice Biennale.
- De Bruyckere's unique approach to sculpture has made her a prominent figure in the art world, with her work being showcased in prominent galleries and museums.
- Her art education and surroundings have played a significant role in shaping her artistic vision and style.
Berlinde De Bruyckere
Berlinde De Bruyckere (born 1964) is a Belgian contemporary artist celebrated for her thought-provoking sculptures and installations. Her work often incorporates body-like forms, drawing influence from religious imagery, mythology, and the Flemish Renaissance. Themes in her art explore the depth of human experience, existence, and raw emotion.
Raised in Ghent, Belgium, De Bruyckere's early years, including her time at a Catholic boarding school, profoundly shaped her artistic vision. After graduating from the LUCA School of Arts in 1986, she completed a residency at the In Flanders Fields Museum. A visit to a skin trader's workshop in Anderlecht in 2013 marked a turning point in her career, leading her to experiment with wax casts of animal hides, expanding her already diverse repertoire of materials such as wax, fabric, wood, and leather.
De Bruyckere’s sculptures blend human, animal, and natural forms, intertwining contemporary themes with timeless myths and traditions. Her innovative creations, which evoke vulnerability, mortality, and remembrance, have been showcased internationally, including at the 55th Venice Biennale, where she represented Belgium.
Her studio, located in an old school in Muide, Ghent, reflects her deep connection to her roots and the city’s rich history. The Flemish Renaissance’s influence is evident in her work, which reimagines classical motifs while engaging with modern emotional and existential narratives.
Berlinde De Bruyckere’s artistic journey is defined by experimentation and innovation. Her use of diverse materials enables her to create evocative sculptures that push the boundaries of traditional art, offering profound meditations on the human condition.
Mastering materials: sculptural techniques and innovation
Berlinde De Bruyckere is renowned for her work with malleable materials, using innovative sculptural techniques to craft complex and emotionally charged pieces. Her focus on materiality explores the profound physical and emotional connections that resonate through her art.
Her techniques result in thought-provoking and visually captivating sculptures. One notable example, "We Are All Flesh" (2012), features intertwined horse skins in varying colors, exemplifying her unique approach to form and texture.
Early in her career, De Bruyckere created wax sculptures of twisted body parts, painted in muted tones of sallow pinks and greys that evoke the bruises and wounds of human flesh. Later, she expanded her practice to include animal skins, transforming hides into grotesque, mutated forms. These works, such as her layered and molded pelts, evoke the haunting imagery of sepia-toned photographs depicting the exploitation of wildlife in Europe’s colonial past.
Berlinde De Bruyckere’s groundbreaking use of materials and exploration of existential themes make her sculptures both disturbing and emotionally impactful, cementing her position as a key figure in contemporary art. Her expertise in materials and techniques has earned her widespread acclaim, inspiring fellow artists and captivating global audiences, establishing her as a visionary in the art world.
Mythology, materiality, and Flemish Renaissance in Berlinde De Bruyckere's art
Berlinde De Bruyckere’s work is deeply rooted in the Flemish Renaissance, a period that shaped her ability to intertwine historical and mythological themes with contemporary issues. This historical foundation is essential to understanding her artistic vision, which uses traditional materials and techniques to explore modern concerns.
Her choice of materials, including wax, wood, and horse skin, reflects staples of the Flemish Renaissance while offering a contemporary reinterpretation. Sculptures like "Inside Me III" demonstrate her skill in merging historical context with a modern perspective, resulting in pieces that are both distinctive and thought-provoking.
De Bruyckere often incorporates mythological themes and religious imagery, drawing inspiration from European masters such as Luca Giordano, known for his 17th-century religious and mythological works. This influence is evident in her wax sculptures, including conjoined male figures, which highlight the fragility and incompleteness of the human body. These works blend mythological motifs with a haunting sense of beauty, exploring the vulnerability and resilience of the human condition.
Her early sculptures featured twisted wax body parts painted in bruised tones of pinks and greys, evoking a visceral sense of physical pain. Later, she expanded her practice to include animal skins, molding them into grotesque and mutated forms reminiscent of the sepia-toned photographs of European hunters who contributed to species extinction.
De Bruyckere’s works are both emotionally intense and visually captivating, delving into themes of mortality, vulnerability, and remembrance. The mythology in her art adds emotional depth, inviting viewers to reflect on universal human experiences. Her lifelike and intricately detailed sculptures leave a lasting impression, solidifying her reputation as a visionary artist whose work bridges the historical and contemporary, enriching the global art landscape.
Notable works
"Kooi" (1989) is one of Berlinde De Bruyckere's early sculptures that addresses themes of confinement, fragility, and vulnerability. The piece features a lifelike, enclosed body, highlighting the isolation and suffering of the figure. The work uses a combination of human and animal-like forms to evoke a sense of entrapment, symbolizing the emotional and physical limitations imposed on individuals. With its intimate yet unsettling atmosphere, "Kooi" emphasizes the complexity of human existence, particularly the tension between protection and restraint. This piece is reflective of De Bruyckere's ongoing exploration of the human body and the emotional weight it carries.
"K36 (The Black Horse)" (2003): Made from horse skin, wood, iron, and polyurethane foam, this sculpture depicts a mutilated horse crouched with its upper body and front legs touching the surface of a table. Horses, a recurring subject in De Bruyckere’s art, first appeared during her residency at the "In Flanders Field Museum". Inspired by photos of war horses dead on the battlefield, she adopted horses as a metaphor for death. By reimagining their forms and positions, De Bruyckere imbues them with new meanings, using their traditional strength to highlight shared vulnerability between humans and animals.
"Lost V" (2021–2022): This sculpture of a young horse lying on its side atop a marble table is created from horse skin, marble, textile, iron, and epoxy. Inspired both by the war horses of "In Flanders Field" and Francisco de Zurbarán’s "Agnus Dei", the piece blurs the line between life and death. The horse’s blanket, a symbol of self-protection, evokes feelings of mortality and human responses to death, reinforcing themes of fragility and the delicate boundary between existence and oblivion.
"Arcangelo I" (2022–2023): This bronze, lead, and chrome steel sculpture is part of De Bruyckere's "A Simple Prophecy" exhibition. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, it serves as a tribute to healthcare workers and their vital role during that time. Like many of her earlier works, the figure's head is either absent or concealed, with the angel’s body still and shrouded in a cloth-like texture, its face hidden. The faintly extended wings evoke both a sense of hovering and the weight of burdens carried. The cloth-like covering, a recurring motif in De Bruyckere’s work, symbolizes intimacy and protection, drawing from her exploration of blankets as metaphors for comfort and hope, often influenced by Christian themes.
Exhibitions and collections
Berlinde De Bruyckere's extensive exhibition history underscores her international acclaim and global presence. Since her debut in the mid-1980s, her sculptures and drawings have been showcased in numerous prestigious institutions worldwide. Notable solo exhibitions include "No Life Lost" at Artipelag, Stockholm (2024), "Crossing a Bridge on Fire" at Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon (2023), "City of Refugee I" at Commanderie de Peyrassol, France (2023), and "City of Refugee II" at Diocesanum Museum, Freising, Germany (2023). Other significant exhibitions include "PLUNDER/EKPHRASIS" at MO.CO, Montpellier, France (2022), "Engelenkeel" at Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht (2021), "Aletheia" at Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Torino (2020), and "Il Mantello" for Manifesta 12 in Palermo, Sicily (2018).
Her earlier exhibitions include "Suture" at Leopold Museum, Vienna (2016), "Penthesilea" at Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, Strasbourg (2015), and "In the Flesh" at Kunsthaus Graz, Austria (2013). Collaborative works, such as her project with Philippe Vandenberg, "Innocence is Precisely: Never to Avoid the Worst," were exhibited at De Pont Museum, Tilburg (2012), and later in Paris (2014). Other major showcases include "We Are All Flesh" at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (2012), and "The Wound" at Arter, Istanbul (2012).
Her artworks are featured in prominent public collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin; Collezione Gori Fattoria di Celle, Pistoia; and La Fondation Antoine de Galbert, Paris.
FAQ
Who is Berlinde De Bruyckere?
Berlinde De Bruyckere is a Belgian sculptor born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1964. Her work combines mythology and Belgian culture, inspired by the Flemish Renaissance.
How did Berlinde De Bruyckere's early life in Ghent shape her artistic vision?
Growing up in Ghent deeply influenced Berlinde De Bruyckere's art. The city's rich history and culture, especially the Flemish Renaissance, inspired her unique style.
What materials does Berlinde De Bruyckere use in her sculptures?
Berlinde De Bruyckere uses wax, fabric, and animal skin in her sculptures. These materials add to the emotional depth and human themes in her work.
How does Berlinde De Bruyckere's mastery of materials and innovative techniques contribute to her sculptures?
Berlinde De Bruyckere's use of different textures and forms creates complex, emotionally charged sculptures. Her innovative techniques greatly enhance the impact of her art.
How do Flemish Renaissance influences appear in Berlinde De Bruyckere's contemporary vision?
The Flemish Renaissance influences Berlinde De Bruyckere's style, blending history and myth with modern issues. Her work shows this through its themes and elements.
How does Berlinde De Bruyckere use mythological themes and religious imagery in her sculptures?
Berlinde De Bruyckere weaves mythology and religious iconography into her sculptures. This creates complex, thought-provoking pieces that are emotionally intense and deeply meaningful.
What are some of Berlinde De Bruyckere's notable works and artistic breakthroughs?
Berlinde De Bruyckere has made several significant sculptures that have earned her critical acclaim. These works showcase her artistic growth and influence her future creations.
How has Berlinde De Bruyckere's exhibition history and international recognition impacted her success?
Berlinde De Bruyckere's extensive exhibitions have boosted her global fame and success. Her international presence has also shaped her artistic style and themes.
How has Berlinde De Bruyckere's impact influenced contemporary sculpture?
Berlinde De Bruyckere's innovative style and techniques have inspired other artists. Her influence enriches contemporary sculpture, reflecting broader trends and themes in the art world.
Selena Mattei
