Els Dietvorst
(c)Els Dietvorst Archief, scan: M HKA, 2019
"the skull" the empty head of the world
dead structure, bone and loam
eyeless eye sockets, Neanderthal wiped out by man
this same man fighting for existence in a country, already too small for existence
the survival of the fittest, the fittest sculpture
the one that no longer seems to fit
- Orla Barry
Sculpture is beside drawing, writing and video an important medium in my artpractice. I started the Skull-series out of disbelieve and anger on the black pages of human history. The Skull-sculptures became a metaphor for useless violence and a symbol for human respect, gathering and transcendance.
The first sculpture (SKULL1-1999) was a huge skull, made of wood and loam, build in my studio in Brasschaat (Antwerp) which was on that time in the middle of a military base.
The form of every skull is based on the skull of a Neanderthaler. The Neanderthaler is often pictured in history as a brute but was peacefull and shared peacefull rituals. They vanished when modern humans arrived in Europe. The teeth in all of the Skull-series are human beings refering to 'us' the people. Mostly I use natural materials as wood, loam and clay to give the sculptures a fragile skin.The Skull-sculptures also serve as a refuge, you can hide, shelter, meet in it. I see the Skull series as a strong symbol that links us and that belongs to us all, humans. I see it also as a fragile and at the same time strong metaphor against violence.
Els Dietvorst
