Wim Delvoye: Art of Steel and Elements

Belgian neoconceptual artist Wim Delvoye presents his stunning and shockingly intricate pieces of art at the Leila Heller Gallery Dubai, his first gallery show in the United Arab Emirates. The exhibit started in November and will go on until January 4, 2016.

Thank you George Sweet for the shot of this Laser-cut Stainless Steel Gothic Nautilus Shell

If you haven’t heard of Wim Delvoye, here’s a little briefing on him: Delvoye was born in 1965 in Belgium, where he currently resides and works. He also has a home and studio Brighton, UK. Over the past several years, he’s earned numerous solo exhibitions in monumental international museums such as Centre Pompidou (Paris, France), the Louvre Museum (Paris), the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow), the Heydar Aliyev Center (Baku, Azerbaijan), The New Museum (New York), and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Venice).

Wim Delvoye’s art mixes traditional with contemporary concepts and elements. For example, he may use a traditional Islamic ornamentation as an inspirational piece and develop it onto a metal suitcase, or take old, traditional Gothic architecture and merge it with an industrial machine such as a concrete mixer. Careful and precise mathematical theories, along with modern computerized technology, are applied to each of his pieces—and the end result of his artwork is nothing short of breathtakingly and impressively gorgeous. Take a look for yourself!

Images courtesy of Leila Heller Gallery Dubai

Rimowa Classic Flight Multiweel, Embossed Aluminum

Hand Carved Tire

Gothic Nautilus Shell, Laser-cut Stainless Steel

Dump Truck, Laser-cut Corten Steel

Concrete Mixer, Laser-cut Stainless Steel

As an artist, Delvoye never fails to be inspired, as he’s an avid traveler and immerses himself in local cultures. He’s known to say, “I don’t feel I belong anywhere. I feel like a nomad. So I take inspiration from different cultures, whilst being very respectful to the places I go.”

His work is often described as a blend of deeply philosophical ideas using different raw materials/elements and a deep immersion in techniques of craftsmanship. It’s a truly one of a kind exhibit that needs to be seen in person.