Contemporary art // installation art// video collage//collage
'I'm a visual manipulator of the body as we know it.'
Elke Desutter
‘To Titillate’ trtrlert/
arouse (someone) to interest or mild excitement
'The body embodies many aspects in my work. It is used as a model, an object and medium. '
The disconnection from ‘the body’ as we know it fascinates, attracts and invites you to look closer at my work.
Using video, photocollage and installation, I explore the body in all its forms. The body is literally objectified but NOT as a lust-object.
Reinventing the way we look at the body and how it takes shape, I play with the spectator through recognition and abstraction. Using skintones and imperfections of the body as a foundation, the body is then pulled apart from its known form and an image of the body is recreated. Imperfections of the body and the skin are investigated, magnified and combined into a new Body of Bodies.
The body parts I use in my work are collected through anonymous photosessions where the model chooses which part they would like photographed and donated to my archive. This part is very important to me to see how people look at their body and what they want to 'donate'. People tend to 'mentally' give away parts they are ashamed of or proudly donate their most loved part to my archive.
The body respresents EVERYBODY and becomes ONE through my work. Gender, race and age are put in one bundle of bodies. Which parts of the body we see are not always clear. The parts get reinvented. As a spectator you try and figure out which parts you are seeing. We see the body in its purest form. Nude and with all its imperfections. Shown as it is but out of its context. Through this the phenomenon of pareidolia can take place, looking beside the obvious and seeing something that is not there. Our brain is used to recognise things quickly, a basic reflex which protects us from danger and helps us read people’s expressions.
'
© Alex Vanhee
By using media like video, photocollage and installation, I explore the body in all it forms.'
Elke Desutter
Bruges,1987
Lives and works in Bruges, Belgium
Education
.2009-2011 Master in free-arts, School of arts, Ghent
Expositions
2024
'Wear Sunscreen' 27/04-03/11 Villa Zephyr, Westende
https://www.middelkerke.be/nl/cultuurstek/evenementen/tentoonstelling-wear-sunscreen
'Les Liaisons Désireuses'26/05-13/10 Kasteel Van Ursel, Hingene
https://www.kasteeldursel.be/bezoek/
'Woman In Arts Biennale' 18/03-31/03 Espace vanderborght, BXl
https://biennaleofwomeninart.com/artists-of-the-biennale/
'Folding Folded Folds' 17/02-03/03 Dingen Die Niet Verkopen, Antwerp
2023
'21ste Biennale van Hedendaagste kunst' 02-10/09, Kasteel van Poeke, Aalter
https://www.xn--binnaleaalter-4hb.eu/kunstenaars
'Lijf en Leden' 25/03-25/06 Morbee Gallery, Knokke'
'In the Inside' 15-23/04 Groupshow Bruges, INSIDE
2022
'A Titillating Evening Awaits' 29/09-30/10 Solo expo, Gildhof ,Tielt
https://www.gildhof.be/intra-muros-elke-desutter
''de Hoofdzaak' 08-09/10 Veilingexpo, Blauwhuis, Izegem
'Exposure' 4-5, 10-12/06 groupshow, Kasteel Borluut, Ghent
Residency @ KAOS FESTIVAL 1-14/06 Kranj, Slovenia
https://layer.si/kaos/en/programme/all-events/all-events-2022
''Corporeal Gestures' 04/04- 29/04 Portland, United States
https://www.pdx.edu/architecture/events/corporeal-gestures
'Loss', kunstenfestival 06-08/05 Site Sanitary,Zottegem https://www.kunstenfestival-loss.com/
2021
'Passie & Obsessie' 09-23/10'/Groupexpo cc Zwijgershoek,
St-Niklaas
'Input/output '21/10-21/11, Tweejaarlijkse prijs, selectie, Poorterloge Brugge
https://fb.me/e/1c9ru3ooC
'Onverbloemd #2 ' 11/07-20/08 Bloemmolens, Diksmuide
'Generaties Lijmen' 12/06-31/08 Guislain Museum, Gent
https://www.facebook.com/museumdrguislain/photos/pcb.10165318415810607/10165318415600607/
'Buy Local' Kunstsalon, 02/07-29/08 kunsthal, Gent
'Homo Sum' 09/07-22/08, Timmerman Opsomer Museum, Lier
'Hedendaagse Primitieven' 22/04-09/0, Exporuimte Burg/ Brugge
https://www.ccbrugge.be/agenda/1426/Hedendaagse_Primitieven/Alex_Vanhee_Benedikte_Van_Eeghem/
'Groupshow What's in it for me' 28- 31/01 / Blanco, Gent
2020
Bulp/ Nerdlab/ Brugge
Buy Local/ Zomersalon Kunsthal / Ghent
For a Brief Eternity/ De Tank/ Bruges
Bokashi.be/ duoshow/ Zebrastraat/ Ghent
Inside/out 2020 / kasteel Borluut/ Ghent
Foundation Andrée & Pierre Arty/ Mechelen
'Behind the Glasss' pandemic project from Jonas Vansteenkiste/ Ghent
Vitrines D'amour, Bulthaup, Ghent
https://www.facebook.com/events/gent-linkeroever/vitrines-damour/201932057025229/
2019
WAWWA n°3 Oil/ De Tank/ Bruges
https://www.facebook.com/events/2787426811268358/
Klein Sculptuur/ CC Zwaneberg/ Heist-op-den-Berg
https://www.facebook.com/events/843056022756035/
BYOB Mutation/ Nerdlab/ Ghent
https://www.facebook.com/events/447498319306581/
M/V/X: Het lichaam, een feest?/CC/ Bruges
https://www.facebook.com/events/2496470127242495/
Opening Makerspace/MAM/ Bruges
Kolaj Fest / New Orleans, USA
http://kolajmagazine.com/content/kolaj-fest/donate-yourself/
Ulele Pitch 'BOOK OF BRUISES'/ Antwerp
group project Nerdlab@Tumult/Krook/ Ghent
https://www.facebook.com/events/987560678106963/
World Collage atlas/ Verbeke Foundation/ Kemzeke.
https://www.facebook.com/events/342187649745483/
2018
'CENSORmeTHIS'/ solo expo/ Blanco in Ghent
'Projector'/ Audiovisual Festival/ Haar in Antwerp
'Ongezien 3'/ Dopplatform/ BP building in Antwerp
'More = More'/ Groupshow/ CC Sint-Niklaas
'Overspel deel II'/Project Prevenda/Antwerp Central Station
2017
'Overspel'/Project Prevenda/Antwerp Central Station
'The inhabitant Body'/ Groupshow 300jaar academie/ Schipperskapel in Bruges
'The first on the left'/ Sponsored project with musician Laurens Van Bouwelen/ Kouter in Ghent
'Kunstenlab'/Passage/ Bogardenkapel in Bruges
........
Selections and prizes
2024 'Woman in Arts Biennale Espace vanderborght, BXl
2022 'Input/output 2022'/ Selection Groupshow/ Poorterloge Brugge
2019 ‘Klein Sculptuur’/ Selection groupshow/ CC/Heist-Op-Den-Berg
2019 'KolajFest'/ project 'Donate Yourself'
2014 ‘Stimulans’/ Selection/ Broelmuseum/ Courtray
2014‘Kunstsalon Sant’ / Selection/ Stadshallen/ Bruges
2011 ‘Provincial price for fine arts'/ Laureate/ Venetian Galleries/
Ostend
2010 'Frappant expo’/ Preselection/collaboration with Wesley Van Gaever /Diamantmuseum in Antwerp
2009 ‘Arnoevoo’/3th place/ Staf Versluys in Bredene
2006 ‘Curieus’ in Wenduine/ Selection for the final in Ypres
Download my portfolio here