Erik van Lieshout - Lariam
Galerie Fons Welters - Back Space
23 Jun – 28 Jul 2001
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Galerie Fons Welters proudly presents a solo exhibition with new work by Erik van Lieshout (Deurne, 1968). Van Lieshout made his solo debut at Galerie Fons Welters three years ago with Singing Apart Together, an exhibition which showcased paintings and one installation.
Since then, Van Lieshout has spent a year working in Berlin and has won the Prix de Rome second prize in painting. He has also taken part in various national and internation exhibitions. Erik van Lieshout lives and works in Rotterdam.
Erik van Lieshout's most recent work is on show in his exhibit entitled Lariam: an installation comprised of drawings and a large carton box. For those already introduced to Van Lieshout's work, this presentation will come as no surprise: next to paintings and drawings, Van Lieshout has been developing installations often made up of raw, low-budget materials. In his sauna, sun-bed, steam-bath and hennep plantation for example - works which have been recently exhibited in various shows - the artist manages to link this raw aspect to functionalism.
In Lariam (a medicine for Malaria) Van Lieshout further explores his fascination for hiphop and DJ culture, which has, of late, been a recurring theme in his works. The viewer is welcome to view a video projected inside of an enlarged version of the Lariam-pillbox. This video was shot this year on location in Ghana, and features the artist himself rapping lyrics he also wrote. During his 'investigation' into the roots of hiphop, Van Lieshout took a course in rapping offered by Ghanaian MCs and allowed his perscription label for Lariam to act as muse for the lyrics.
In his work, Van Lieshout comments on the position of the outsider who involves himself with exotic phenomena. With enough humor and without weighty morale, he touches on the post-colonial issues this outsider position entails, as in the case of white middle class adolescents' appropriation of typical black urban culture. Above all, traces of Van Lieshouts affinity with the products of pop and mass culture remain clearly visible in his work.
[Xander Karskens]
Since then, Van Lieshout has spent a year working in Berlin and has won the Prix de Rome second prize in painting. He has also taken part in various national and internation exhibitions. Erik van Lieshout lives and works in Rotterdam.
Erik van Lieshout's most recent work is on show in his exhibit entitled Lariam: an installation comprised of drawings and a large carton box. For those already introduced to Van Lieshout's work, this presentation will come as no surprise: next to paintings and drawings, Van Lieshout has been developing installations often made up of raw, low-budget materials. In his sauna, sun-bed, steam-bath and hennep plantation for example - works which have been recently exhibited in various shows - the artist manages to link this raw aspect to functionalism.
In Lariam (a medicine for Malaria) Van Lieshout further explores his fascination for hiphop and DJ culture, which has, of late, been a recurring theme in his works. The viewer is welcome to view a video projected inside of an enlarged version of the Lariam-pillbox. This video was shot this year on location in Ghana, and features the artist himself rapping lyrics he also wrote. During his 'investigation' into the roots of hiphop, Van Lieshout took a course in rapping offered by Ghanaian MCs and allowed his perscription label for Lariam to act as muse for the lyrics.
In his work, Van Lieshout comments on the position of the outsider who involves himself with exotic phenomena. With enough humor and without weighty morale, he touches on the post-colonial issues this outsider position entails, as in the case of white middle class adolescents' appropriation of typical black urban culture. Above all, traces of Van Lieshouts affinity with the products of pop and mass culture remain clearly visible in his work.
[Xander Karskens]