Some earlier editions of Art Zuid did have quite a lot of artworks that did not seem to want to involve, nor inspire the viewer. But this year the curators Michiel Romeyn and Jhim Lamoree have done a truly impressive job. Michiel Romeyn is a Dutch actor, comedian and visual artist. He and his friend Jhim Lamoree, who’s an art historian, used to present a television program about art. That this year’s Art Zuid has been curated by people who know a lot about art, are well connected in the art world and have a great sense of humor, becomes obvious when viewing the artworks. 

    “There is no lack of humor at this exhibition“

From the whimsical, ridiculous gherkin and sausage sculptures of the Austrian artist Erwin Wurm, to the preposterous self-aggrandizing artworks of Flemish enfant terrible Jan Fabre, the giant thumb of César and the dark irony of Wim Delvoye’s Twisted Jesus, there is no lack of humor at this exhibition. But there are also many well crafted, esthetically pleasing artworks from esteemed artists such as Armando, Jaume Plensa, Nic Jonk and even Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol – who’s fabulous lead sculpture La Rivière must not have been easy to insure for an outside event such as this.

I was also impressed by four humanoid bronze figures that were crafted by the Dutch artist Henk Visch. They are like memories of dreams: poetic and melancholic. An interesting look into the future of art is provided by two artworks of the young Flemish sculptor Nick Ervinck, who creates his art with the use of cutting edge digital design and printing technologies.