Casted in bronze and designed to mimic the appearance of wood logs split in half, the tops of these forms are intricately adorned with spiral patterns. This artistic choice draws a direct connection to dendrochronology—the scientific method of dating based on tree rings.
Dendrochronology allows scientists to uncover detailed information about a tree’s history and health, as well as the climatic and geographical conditions during its lifetime. Through this method, we can make assessments and predictions about the environment. These sculptures serve as both a metaphorical and physical representation of how we categorize time and interpret the influence of nature on our perception of it.
One particularly evocative piece in the series features a bronze tree trunk with growth rings that mimic the colors and stripes of the Directoire style, famously associated with the suits of Robespierre. This work not only symbolizes the passage of time but also links historical and natural timelines in a visually compelling manner.
Adding to the whimsical and thought-provoking nature of the installation, woodpeckers are depicted as time travelers. These birds—often associated with the passage of time through their rhythmic pecking—further emphasize the theme of time exploration and the interconnection between nature and our temporal understanding.
Biography
Known for his multifaceted and divergent approach to art making—spanning sculpture, installation, painting and drawing—Kasper Bosmans’ practice is a rich amalgamation of high art and literature, popular culture, mythology and anthropology. His work is viewed through a queer and playfully minimalist lens that subversively observes and reimagines dominant narratives.
Taking an editorial approach, Bosmans cuts, pastes and brings together anecdotes and stories that traverse histories, cultures and societies, uncovering off-beat, idiosyncratic and poetic resonances that bind form and meaning in what is essentially a conceptual practice. Nothing is off-limits for Bosmans, who holds a particular affinity for obscure, queer and marginalized anecdotes—from stories of cross-dressing saints to examples of celibacy and monogamy in the animal kingdom. He prods, pokes and teases out connections in his work that hold personal significance, while the resulting narratives inevitably take on a universal resonance.
