Hof der dingen - Spade of Wim Delvoye

When you hear the name Wim Delvoye, chances are the Cloaca machine springs to mind. And rightly so – this poo machine is what catapulted the Wervik-born artist to fame, not only in Belgium but across the globe. He created the provocative work in 2000, which he replicated the human digestive system. It quickly became a magnet for media attention and ignited controversy. 

Before this, Delvoye had already exhibited at the Venice Biennale and amazed the art world at Documenta in Kassel with his tattooed pigs. Years later, when he planned to present the installation again at Watou’s summer arts festival, the animal rights organisation Gaia intervened to prevent it. 

He does not shy away from provocation, yet presents his creations with complete seriousness – inviting debate in the process. Delvoye relishes mixing “high” and “low” culture, weaving together different social orders and classes. His works often reveal that you shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover. In 1991, Wim Delvoye built a cement mixer adorned with seventy-six spades. These were no ordinary spades – each was painted with coats of arms and heraldic motifs, placing noble emblems on a labourer’s tool. In Delvoye’s hands, the worlds of aristocrats and working people merge into a single artwork. 

Another notable creation is his series of steel excavators, one of which still stands in public space in West Flanders – on the seafront in Middelkerke. 

Today, Delvoye’s work features in the collections of leading art museums around the world.