0233
18-11-2022
FOLDING SPACE
Jonas Vansteenkiste
Visual Artist
Jonas Vansteenkiste blended three of his fascinations in one manuscript; those for Scripted Spaces, for Façadism and for the Wunderkammer.
The common denominator is the mental and physical impact of architecture on us, on humans. The Scripted Space theory deals with spaces that are programmed to make the spectator feel like being the center of a story. Façadism manifests itself in the environment of the artist, where facades are preserved during demolition and new construction, to find themselves be stand-alone objects, reduced to mere aesthetics. Finally, the Wunderkammer is all about multiplicity and layered presentation. Iconic to Vansteenkiste is The Picture Galley in the Sir John Sloane’s Museum, where fold-out wall panels triple the exhibition area.
Vansteenkiste brings intertwines elements to achieve a spatial arrangement arising from the closed book form of the manuscript. The work shows metal frames, partly filled in with ceramics. Color and material refer to traditional brick facades; the combination with metal evokes the vibe of industrial constructions. Openings in the sheets reveal layers beneath; fragmented architecture.
Hinges make it possible to unfold and place the facade parts upright. With this action, the manuscript suddenly takes up space. In this architectural space, the work generates inside and outside, front and back. The manuscript ‘Folding Space’ is a playful ode to architecture, a template for thinking about space.
