Willem van Weeghel Solo in Erarta Museum

SmithDavidson Gallery is excited to announce the solo by Willem van Weeghel featuring the artist's kinetic sculptures in the Erarta museum for Contemporary Art in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The exhibition will be on view from January 20 until May 15, 2022

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Every one of Willem van Weeghel's monochrome compositions is a complex CAD (computer-aided design) based mobile work, which is characterised by a series of elements placed at the forefront of a large canvas and frame. The elements are typically metal and are attached to a mechanism at the back of the construction, which allow them to move together constantly, creating a continuous and unique pattern every time. The motifs that are formed are abstract in nature although they do call into question the attributes of positive and negative space, meaning the shapes that they create in the mind’s eye, in contrast to the rest of the space surrounding them.

Kinetic art was initially developed as an artform in the early 20th century, as witnessed by the various sculptural works of Vladimir Tatlin, Alexander Rodchenko, and Alexander Calder, the latter being the most famous representative of it. Essentially kinetic art is any medium that incorporates dynamic moving elements that are perceivable by the viewer. Van Weeghel, however, manages to elevate kinetic artform within his works by incorporating technological advancements previously unseen within the art world: integrated computerised mechanisms which are hidden away from the viewer. The artist has stated that he has purposefully concealed the electronic components, as he views them as merely instrumental in achieving what he really wants: an attempt to visualize the passage of time.

The works to be shown at Erarta are mesmerizing and require the viewer to pause in front of them for a period of time in order to absorb the incredible unfolding mosaics. In addition to the hanging works which are typical of the artist, Erarta museum has also collaborated with van Weeghel on a special large scale immersive sculptural work, which will be shown on the ground floor of the special two-storey exhibition space at the museum. Here, the viewer will be able to walk amongst large tree-like mobile sculptures, thus integrating himself into the world of van Weeghel. Unmissable.

We look forward to welcoming you to this special exhibition in January 2022.

Exhibition curator – Dasha Vass