The Antwerp artist Guillaume Bijl made his international breakthrough in the 1980s with his 'transformation installations'. He transforms galleries and museums into banal and recognisable commercial or entertainment environments such as a carpet shop, a supermarket or a TV Quiz decor. In addition, he presents cut-outs from reality as 'situation installations' and 'compositions trouvées'.
Less known but widely distributed, are the multiples (works of art in an edition) that Bijl creates. These banal-looking objects, selected by the artist, take on a completely different meaning when presented as an edition in an art context. Bijl also designed various posters and artist's books in the context of his projects and exhibitions.
This exhibition is the result of a research project at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and brings together for the first time all of Guillaume Bijl's multiples, posters and books.
Additionally, a book publication with a complete overview of the editions will be published and a panel discussion will take place about the multiple as an artistic strategy in Bijl's oeuvre and beyond.
The project not anly wants to offer a better insight into the various editions of Guillaume Bijl and answer questions about the realisation of this aspect of his oeuvre and its relation to his larger installation projects.
read on
