MARTHE

Berlinde de Bruyckere's sculptures are placed and hung representing the lifelessness of the animal or human the piece is imitating. her work for the venice biennial in the Belgium pavilion, Kreupelhout-Cripplewood, represents the relationship between nature and humans, giving life to the stack of old broken trees by covering it with wax resembling skin and blood. Her other sculptures imitating humans present faceless bodies, formed into a white or very pale mass of limbs and hair, all naked. although the pieces could be described as seeming in pain, they also have a beautiful elegance about them, making them fragile and vunrable  They are not intimidating, yet are uncomfortable and exposed completely to the viewer. I love the way the deformed horses pieces are shown, some thrown and effortlessly hung over wooden posts, as the skin is the only suggestion of the animal it originally was, as most of them are without faces or eyes, giving emphasise on the hides. They're clean with no sign of death or suffering, nor are they violent  which gives a wave of calm about the piece, which to me is an achievement considering the subject involved. http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/interviews/correspondences-an-interview-with-berlinde-de-bruyckere/

I was lucky enough to see Bruyckeres venice biennalle piece twice, once in summer when i was inter ailing, so the room was much lighter then the second time in november. I have also seen her piece 'Marthe' at an exhibition called 'thing big', hosted by the Saatchi gallery. 'Marthe' resembles part human, and what could be seen as parts of trees hanging from the neck supporting the body. this could be intentional to suggest the relationship between nature and humans and the dependability and structure we get from nature. Bruyckeres claims, "I no longer think the presence of a head is necessary. The figure as a whole is a mental state. The presence or absence of a head is irrelevant.”http://www.saatchigallery.com/artists/berlinde_debruyckere.htm