AXEL VAN DER KRAAN

Axel van der Kraan has a less than optimistic view of humans and civilisation. He is fascinated by power and bureaucracy and the absurdity of routines and rules that sometimes seem to oppress people more than help them. The artist sees the world as an “unfocused, absurd, and aimless battleground”. His sculptures, however, are characterised by a high degree of inventiveness in their construction and use of materials. New, recognisable images are created from discarded household appliances and machines; a waste bin becomes the body of a soldier and a sink the gun turret of a tank. This book examines his body of work since 1985, including assemblages, rubbings, and woodcuts.