“Industry itself needs to be saved”
– Joep van Lieshout
Dutch designer and artist Joep van Lieshout talks to Dezeen about his sculptures depicting cannibalism and suicide in this interview recorded at the Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery in London, and how “industry itself needs to be saved” so he plans to “start producing from scratch again” (+ audio).
Above: Gastronomy, 2011
In the interview recorded at the opening of the exhibition (listen above), he describes the pieces in the collection titled New Tribal Labyrinth that envisage returning to a more primitive industrial society.
Above: Blastfurnace, 2012
The largest sculpture is titled Blastfurnace and depicts industrial elements once used in the steel manufacturing process as part of a shelving unit.
Above: Blastfurnace, 2012
Van Lieshout explains how he is planning to build a blast furnace so he can produce his own steel to make into furniture, which he admits will be “extremely expensive”.
Above: Gastronomy, 2011
“Objects and products became so cheap, it’s not a challenge anymore,” he says. “People start to look for more special things, things with a soul.”
Above: Friends, 2011
Van Lieshout is currently working on a large “human-powered saw mill”, propelled by up to 16 people running on treadmills.
Above: Joep van Lieshout at Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery
Take a look at our previous story about his sculptures here and see all our stories about Atelier van Lieshout here.
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