Belgian artist Wim Delvoye's art is extremely eclectic and can be grouped into different themes. Alongside his serious intentions, Delvoye's work often applies a sense of humour, at times risque and at others, disturbing, to create unique and challenging work.
The picture above is from his 'Chantier' project in which he rearranges the forms of gothic architecture to create sculptures of utilitarian building equipment. This piece is entitled Caterpillar#5, 350 x 900 x 300 cm, constructed from laser-cut corten steel.
The intricate metalwork is beautiful. In particular I like the way in which a usually heavy, indestructible modern piece of machinery appears here as an intricate, lace-like and seemingly fragile object of decoration.
This piece at first appealed to me as fitting well with the juxtaposition of aesthetic beauty and mechanics that I am currently exploring in my own research. However as I consider this piece further I am aware that its apparent link to mechanics is merely residual: an artefact of the original machinery, suggested only by form and not seen through in function.
This has alerted me to a threshold with which I may choose to constrain my own work. In the marriage of aesthetic beauty and mechanics, whilst beauty may be of paramount importance, I would like to maintain a level of mechanical and functional integrity. If my work suggests the presence of motion or function, then this should be realised and not simply implied.
That said, I am still drawn by its graceful, delicate visual qualities. Indeed I have already started working with perforated steel for its decorative and ageing qualities and I may choose to explore this further.
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