Guillaume Bijl
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Bijl, born in Antwerp in 1946, is a Belgian
installation art
ist.
Bijl's first installation was a driving school, set in a gallery-space in Antwerp in 1979, accompanied by a manifesto
calling for the abolition of art centres, and replacing them with 'socially useful institutions'. This installation was followed in the eighties by a billiards room, a casino, a laundromat, a centre for professional training, a psychiatric hospital, a fallout shelter
, a show of fictitious American artists, a conference for a new political party and a rural Belgian model house.
He divides his work into four categories: 'transformation installations', 'situation installations', 'compositions trouvées' and 'sorry's'.
Bijl created a display window for a wax-doll museum for Documenta
IX in 1992.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
installation art
Installation art
Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
ist.
Bijl's first installation was a driving school, set in a gallery-space in Antwerp in 1979, accompanied by a manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
calling for the abolition of art centres, and replacing them with 'socially useful institutions'. This installation was followed in the eighties by a billiards room, a casino, a laundromat, a centre for professional training, a psychiatric hospital, a fallout shelter
Fallout shelter
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War....
, a show of fictitious American artists, a conference for a new political party and a rural Belgian model house.
He divides his work into four categories: 'transformation installations', 'situation installations', 'compositions trouvées' and 'sorry's'.
Bijl created a display window for a wax-doll museum for Documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
IX in 1992.