Sculptures - hybrids by Koen Vanmechelen
fter the successful exhibition "Seduction" at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, I visited Koen Vanmechelen's latest exhibition, "We Thought We Were Alone." The Rota Ivancich Palace showcases the Belgian artist as part of the parallel program for the Venice Biennale 2026.
Hybrids
Contrast and duality are again present in the works. The famous sculpture "Child with an Iguana" is prominently displayed at the entrance, establishing a connection with the previous exhibition. This piece is the artist's reinterpretation of the theme "Child with a Rooster." It is entirely sculpted in black, in contrast to the black-and-white version created in 2024.
Koen Vanmechelen drew inspiration from the Medusa theme, but his interpretation features a unique twist.
Instead of snakes, Medusa has chicken heads on the bodies of their natural enemies - snakes. This contrast really provokes deeper thought.
Duality is represented through the symbiosis of the animal world and man. Hybrid sculptures combine recognizable sculptures from art history and animal portraits. You can view the hybrid sculptures of Auguste Rodin by following this link.
An attempt is made to evoke a positive emotion even towards the most unloved creatures in nature. They put themselves in the role of mannequins on the runway - a sight that everyone accepts easily and with pleasure.
The egg symbolizes new ideas
In the exhibition at the Uffizi Gallery, the egg symbolizes new beginnings and ideas. While it is primarily associated with birds, the artist also highlights that snakes hatch from eggs. In Venice, there is a growing interest in animals associated with this mode of creation, leading to the inclusion of lizards and iguanas as well.
A golden egg appears as a symbol of positive ideas.
Koen Vanmehelen and the wildlife
Attention is drawn to the bad attitude towards nature and the world of wild animals.
Certain sculptures deliberately evoke a sense of anxiety, such as a bound koala or a tapir in chains. Wildlife is truly threatened by human activity. The artist places a leopard behind bulletproof glass to prevent it from being shot for fun and sport.
I look forward to the next Koen Vanmechelen exhibition. We may find out what new will hatch from the golden egg.
