Elise EERAERTS - No title (In Situ Suit) (2020)

Through her multidisciplinary works, Elise Eeraerts aims to reveal the mutual connectedness of human constructions and nature. She is fascinated by the manual transformation of a wide range of materials originating in nature, such as earth, which can be transformed into mud, concrete or bricks by man.  

In fact, earth is a material that takes centre stage in Eeraerts’ art. She extracts soil samples and reworks them into sculptural works of art. The hexagonal shape, which refers to the samples used in scientific soil research, is a recurring pattern in her works. 

In contrast to several other works by Eernaerts, the sculpture No title (In Situ Suit) was not made from a soil sample taken from the earth. However, by means of subtle references, this piece does connect to the practice of scientific soil research.  

At first sight, the refined elements seem rather abstract and geometric, but if you take a closer look, you recognise in them all sorts of figurative shapes. This sculpture tells the story of the excavation and depicts the character of Golem, a mythical figure brought to life from clay. No title (In Situ Suit) almost emerges from the soil like a crystal growing out of the earth. As such, this human creation is linked to natural processes through its content and visual design.