Sven 't Jolle
10 Sep - 21 Oct 2009
SVEN 't JOLLE
"Sponsorship Ahoy!!!"
10.09.09 - 21.10.09
Stella Lohaus Gallery presents: “Sponsorship Ahoy!”*
*supported by the artist Sven ‘t Jolle
Sven ‘t Jolle’s (Antwerp, 1966) work always starts from an essential involvement in social events. His power as an artist finds its source in his committed attitude to life. His works of art are embedded in current events and cannot be detached from reality. The title of the exhibition and the design of the invitation card refer in a humorous, but succinct way to the various distorted relationships in the world of art: the title is a cheeky reference to exhibitions and events in which the name of the sponsor or organizer (curator) almost dispels the artist’s name or the name of the event. At the front of the invitation the logos of the companies/sponsors flaunt themselves. The artist’s name, on the other hand, is only mentioned as a footnote. Apart from that, you cannot fail to notice that all the company names evoke an association with the credit crisis.
The centrepiece in the exhibition is a stylized and sculpted raft, that serves as a basis for a scale model of a 17th century East Indiaman from ‘The Golden Age’, as it was used by the Dutch East India Company. The ship/scale model, constructed of plaster and coated with gold leaf, lies in a tilted position as a result of which it is not clear whether we are dealing with an almost capsized ship or one that is being patched up or in Dutch ‘opgekalfaterd’ (The original meaning of the Dutch word ‘kalfateren’/to caulk is to make something waterproof for which a ship had to be heaved down. This can be seen in 17th and 18th century engravings.).
It is not the first time that ‘t Jolle executes the idea of taking a boat or ship as the shape of a sculpture and to use this to refer to, among other things, political and economic concepts. Another example is the exhibition “Toyotism is ...” which was also displayed in the Stella Lohaus Gallery, in 2000. Then, the sculpture “Teamwork (craftmanship is mastership)” was inspired by a tomb model of an Egyptian slave ship, but at the same time, it referred to the current production systems used in the automobile sector.
The title of the sculpture that is on display now is “Schoon schip/tabula rasa” (In Dutch ‘schoon’ can refer to ‘beautiful’ as well as ‘clean’. The Dutch expression ‘schoon schip maken’ can therefore both mean ‘to make a beautiful ship’ (lit.) and ‘to tidy up old garbage in order to make a new start’ (fig.).). As is often the case in Sven ‘t Jolle’s work the title contains several references and layers of meaning. Is the title just an explanation of what we can see, viz. the making of a beautiful ship? Is it about chucking overboard failed systems? Or is it about the ‘poor raft’ that, beside safeguarding itself, has to save the golden ship from death by drowning?
By asking fundamental questions and examining our capitalist society from a critical point of view ‘t Jolle brings art and life closer together. Through his work he wants to awaken people’s awareness and situate contemporary problems in a wider time perspective.
"Sponsorship Ahoy!!!"
10.09.09 - 21.10.09
Stella Lohaus Gallery presents: “Sponsorship Ahoy!”*
*supported by the artist Sven ‘t Jolle
Sven ‘t Jolle’s (Antwerp, 1966) work always starts from an essential involvement in social events. His power as an artist finds its source in his committed attitude to life. His works of art are embedded in current events and cannot be detached from reality. The title of the exhibition and the design of the invitation card refer in a humorous, but succinct way to the various distorted relationships in the world of art: the title is a cheeky reference to exhibitions and events in which the name of the sponsor or organizer (curator) almost dispels the artist’s name or the name of the event. At the front of the invitation the logos of the companies/sponsors flaunt themselves. The artist’s name, on the other hand, is only mentioned as a footnote. Apart from that, you cannot fail to notice that all the company names evoke an association with the credit crisis.
The centrepiece in the exhibition is a stylized and sculpted raft, that serves as a basis for a scale model of a 17th century East Indiaman from ‘The Golden Age’, as it was used by the Dutch East India Company. The ship/scale model, constructed of plaster and coated with gold leaf, lies in a tilted position as a result of which it is not clear whether we are dealing with an almost capsized ship or one that is being patched up or in Dutch ‘opgekalfaterd’ (The original meaning of the Dutch word ‘kalfateren’/to caulk is to make something waterproof for which a ship had to be heaved down. This can be seen in 17th and 18th century engravings.).
It is not the first time that ‘t Jolle executes the idea of taking a boat or ship as the shape of a sculpture and to use this to refer to, among other things, political and economic concepts. Another example is the exhibition “Toyotism is ...” which was also displayed in the Stella Lohaus Gallery, in 2000. Then, the sculpture “Teamwork (craftmanship is mastership)” was inspired by a tomb model of an Egyptian slave ship, but at the same time, it referred to the current production systems used in the automobile sector.
The title of the sculpture that is on display now is “Schoon schip/tabula rasa” (In Dutch ‘schoon’ can refer to ‘beautiful’ as well as ‘clean’. The Dutch expression ‘schoon schip maken’ can therefore both mean ‘to make a beautiful ship’ (lit.) and ‘to tidy up old garbage in order to make a new start’ (fig.).). As is often the case in Sven ‘t Jolle’s work the title contains several references and layers of meaning. Is the title just an explanation of what we can see, viz. the making of a beautiful ship? Is it about chucking overboard failed systems? Or is it about the ‘poor raft’ that, beside safeguarding itself, has to save the golden ship from death by drowning?
By asking fundamental questions and examining our capitalist society from a critical point of view ‘t Jolle brings art and life closer together. Through his work he wants to awaken people’s awareness and situate contemporary problems in a wider time perspective.