Pile of pure New Zealand 3ply wool, ca 10% acrylic yarn and artificial silk
Privy - White by Jan Fabre, created in 2002, is a striking tapestry that employs a black and white contrast to convey an unusual and surreal scene. The artwork features a row of toilet bowls arranged in a corner, each with fluid-like forms spilling from them, rendered in a monochromatic style that enhances the starkness and surreal quality. The checkered lines above add a geometric rigidity that contrasts with the organic flow of the spilling forms, while the triangular shapes in the top corners introduce a hint of symmetry and mystery. This tapestry, crafted with a blend of New Zealand wool, acrylic yarn, and artificial silk, explores themes of the mundane transformed into the surreal, inviting viewers to contemplate the boundary between utility and art, and to reflect on Fabre’s unique approach to everyday objects with a touch of absurdity.
Jan Fabre (Belgium, 1958) is a multidisciplinary artist blending theater, sculpture, and performance. Known for his provocative works, he often incorporates unconventional materials like beetle wings and blood, exploring themes of transformation, mortality, and the human body.
Tapestry Tapestry is a heavy, handwoven textile featuring intricate designs or images woven directly into the fabric. Created by skilled weavers using materials like wool, linen, cotton, silk, and sometimes silver and gold threads, tapestries have historically served as art pieces, decorations, insulation, and symbols of authority.
Pile of pure New Zealand 3ply wool, ca 10% acrylic yarn and artificial silk
Privy - White by Jan Fabre, created in 2002, is a striking tapestry that employs a black and white contrast to convey an unusual and surreal scene. The artwork features a row of toilet bowls arranged in a corner, each with fluid-like forms spilling from them, rendered in a monochromatic style that enhances the starkness and surreal quality. The checkered lines above add a geometric rigidity that contrasts with the organic flow of the spilling forms, while the triangular shapes in the top corners introduce a hint of symmetry and mystery. This tapestry, crafted with a blend of New Zealand wool, acrylic yarn, and artificial silk, explores themes of the mundane transformed into the surreal, inviting viewers to contemplate the boundary between utility and art, and to reflect on Fabre’s unique approach to everyday objects with a touch of absurdity.
Jan Fabre (Belgium, 1958) is a multidisciplinary artist blending theater, sculpture, and performance. Known for his provocative works, he often incorporates unconventional materials like beetle wings and blood, exploring themes of transformation, mortality, and the human body.
I have a space for myself. No one comes in. No press, no curators, no gallerists.
- Jan Fabre
Renowned for his Bic ball-point pen drawings and ornate sculptures, Jan Fabre is a multi-faceted artist with works spanning across such mediums as sculpture, stage design and choreography. Heaven of Delight is perhaps one of his most notable works – for this piece, Fabre assembled around 1.4 million Jewel Beetle shells in various patterns to adorn the ceiling of Palais Royal in Brussels; Fabre has stated that he has always been fascinated by Jewel Beetles, admiring them for their ‘beauty, memory and ability to process information’. Fabre uses a wide range of unorthodox materials including blood, tears, bones and taxidermied animals; his works attempt to explore the relationships between science and art, and often challenge ‘impossible’ feats – The Man Who Measures the Clouds is just one among many works that deals with the notion of the impossible. (Artist website)
Activist Art is a form of art created to address social and political issues. It often involves public engagement and works closely with communities to raise awareness or inspire change. While it can include elements of performance art, it is not limited to this form. Examples include creating and distributing social protest posters or organizing community-based art projects that highlight specific causes.