BOOKS
Jan Fabre.
Jan Fabre: Dan Ieronymu Boskhu v Kongo / Dan Belgiyskomu Kongo. [Russian edition, 2 volumes.]
Skira in collaboration with Pinchuk Art Centre Kyiv, 2015.
€ 49.50
2 volumes, bound, cloth, 133+125pp;, 25x31.5cm., richly illustr. in col., in very good condition. With orig. bellywrapper. .
This two-volume publication in Russian language documents Jan Fabre's monumental mosaic cycles reflecting on Belgium's colonial history in the Congo. The works are constructed from millions of iridescent jewel beetle wing cases, whose changing colours create elaborate images that move between beauty, violence and historical memory. Tribute to Belgian Congo (2010-2013) directly addresses colonial exploitation, the enslavement of Congolese people and the extraction of the region's natural resources. Fabre incorporates corporate emblems and products associated with the economic interests that profited from colonial rule. Tribute to Hieronymus Bosch in Congo (2011-2013) uses the visual language and unsettling imagery of Bosch to evoke the absurdity, cruelty and moral disorientation of colonial violence. The two series combine historical reference, symbolism and technically extraordinary craftsmanship to confront the viewer with the contradictions between aesthetic splendour and human suffering. Introduced by Eckhard Schneider, the publication also includes essays by international art specialists that situate the works within Fabre's practice and the wider debate about colonial memory. Jan Fabre (born Antwerp, 1958) is a Belgian visual artist, theatre-maker and author. His multidisciplinary practice encompasses drawing, sculpture, performance, installation and large-scale works using unconventional materials. His work frequently explores the body, transformation, beauty, mortality and the relationship between art and power. (AI-generated content description)








