Proposed by Brutus Rotterdam, I Am Not An Artist by Atelier Van Lieshout explores the fundamental principles of being an artist: inventing unwanted solutions for non-existent problems.
In 1987, Joep van Lieshout created a series of sculptures that questioned the role of the artist and art itself.
The works, made from Dommelsch beer crates and concrete paving tiles, are a rational calculation of material, space, and chance. There is no room here for the artist as a genius. The final result is random, yet rational; without the matching modular dimensions of the beer crates and concrete tiles, these works would not have existed.
Interested by the complex relationships between art and standardisation, Van Lieshout continued in the late 1980s and early 1990s, adding usability to his works, which led to the production of hard-edge and soft-edge furniture.
With this approach, the three pillars on which, according to Van Lieshout, art is founded were dismantled: 1. Non-functionality (they were tables, cabinets, sinks, and kitchens) 2. Uniqueness (the works were produced in unlimited series) 3. Authenticity (the design was so simple and generic that it could not be defined as authentic).
The most minimal and conceptual perspective was reached with the founding of Atelier Van Lieshout, a company that offers bespoke solutions for everyday problems. By reducing his role as an artist to that of a carpenter and plumber, he “hit rock bottom”.
The early works represent a still-relevant turning point in Joep van Lieshout’s 40-year career. Although his artistic journey has evolved greatly, the artist continues to redefine the boundaries and interpretation of art, ethics, progress, and repression.
ATELIER VAN LIESHOUT
Atelier Van Lieshout, founded by sculptor Joep van Lieshout, operates at the intersection of art, design, and architecture. After graduating from the Rotterdam Art Academy, Van Lieshout gained fame with works that explore the boundaries between design and art, utility and uselessness, function and aesthetics.
Since 1995, the artist has worked under the name of his studio, challenging the myth of the artistic genius. His multidisciplinary practice explores the limits between fantasy and function, fertility and destruction.
Brutus Rotterdam
Located on the outskirts of the city, Artist Driven Playground Brutus is a vast former industrial space now dedicated to providing a place where artists can experiment on a large scale.
Founded by Joep van Lieshout in 2008, with 6,000m² of exhibition space and a sculpture garden, Brutus offers a residency and a scholarship program.
Brutus consists of two foundations: Brutus Space and Brutus Base. Brutus Base focuses on all projects and activities related to the work of Atelier Van Lieshout, while Brutus Space handles all projects and activities related to other artists.
