"Je mehr Kunst wir hervorbringen, desto mehr Zukunft schaffen wir"
Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen presents his new exhibition "We Thought We Were Alone" at the Palazzo Rota Ivancich in Venice, featuring over 40 new sculptures and installations that blend human and animal physiognomies. Known for his cosmopolitan chicken breeding project, Vanmechelen now works with precious materials like marble and Murano glass, creating hybrid, monumental, and playful works. In an interview with Monopol, he discusses his creative process, the relationship between energy and matter symbolized by the chicken and the egg, and the influence of the Venetian palazzo's mysterious atmosphere on his work.
The exhibition matters because it marks a significant evolution in Vanmechelen's practice from ephemeral, living works to permanent, sculptural forms, while maintaining his core exploration of biocultural diversity and hybridity. His permanent installation "Noah's Ark" at Venice's airport has already made him an unavoidable presence in the city, and this show further cements his position as a leading contemporary artist addressing themes of identity, nature, and coexistence. The interview also touches on broader questions about artistic creation, the role of place in shaping narrative, and the connection to Belgian surrealist traditions.