Tuesday 10 July 2012

The Church of Balkenhol

A catholic church in a drab German town is an unlikely place for contemporary art.

But Kassel is full of surprises. When over there this weekend, I stumbled upon Stephan Balkenhol's staggering wooden sculptures arranged across the walls and patios of St. Elisabeth church. New religion?

Western wall of the St. Elisabeth church in Kassel - sculptures by Stephan Balkenhol




360° tour (thanks to my Dad's iPad)

Confusingly, the show is organized by the Catholic Church and is not part of the dOCUMENTA, the world's largest art exhibition currently held in Kassel (more on this soon). dOCUMENTA's curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev is furious. Claiming that she feels "threatened" by Balkenhol's sculptures, she has been trying to stop their display. The crusade failed. 

Here some of my favourite Balkenhol relics outside Kassel. 

It's there


Death, a matter of perspective



     Blackfriars Bridge, London 1992             



3D tableaux - wood only

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