Plasma Pool. Folkert de Jong
Plasma Pool. Room 1. General view
Territory Revolt #3 (Fox), 2017. Bronze. 45 x 95 x 40 cm
Territory Revolt #2 (Buzzard), 2017. Bronze. 113 x 90 x 50 cm
Territory Revolt #2 (Buzzard) (detail), 2017. Bronze. 113 x 90 x 50 cm
Collision, 2016. Ink and pigment on paper. 220 x 150 cm
Territory Revolt #1 (Rat), 2017. Bronze. 41 x 22 x 15 cm
Territory Revolt #1 (Rat) (detail), 2017. Bronze. 41 x 22 x 15 cm
Territory Revolt #4 (Magpie), 2017. Bronze. 47 x 25 x 45 cm
Plasma Pool. Room 2. General view
Plasma Pool. Room 2. General view
Pyknosis, 2016. Ink and pigment on paper. 220 x 150 cm
The Anthropomorphic State, 2016. Ink and pigment on paper. 220 x 150 cm
Plasma Pool. Room 2. General view
Press release
Luis Adelantado Valencia is pleased to present Plasma Pool, the third individual show by Dutch artist Folkert de Jong at our gallery.
What we see when looking at the sculptures are bronze casts of human body parts: skeletons and organs, and on top, gilded bronze animals. Interestingly, the bronze human and animal forms burst during the bronze casting process due to the pressure generated by the removal of the original parts from the red-hot bronze.
The symbolism and meaning De Jong gives to this work is emphasised by the use of gold. As a precious metal of higher status among other metals, it here symbolises purity and immortality but also human selfishness and exploitation.
The elements of destruction, collision and total destruction of the recognizable human elements the artist sees a chance to resurrect a new artwork from the ashes: life and innocence from scratch to re-emerge again, like a phoenix from the fire.
In the drawings we see conflicts, collisions and interference approached in two different ways through the use of novel materials and techniques. Parts of the drawings are made by direct contact with the human body and other parts are made without any direct contact. Folkert de Jong’s reason for applying these two techniques relates to his interest in the stance of man towards his fellow men, and him taking control of his actions.
