Heavy night? Hard day at the office? Plain can’t be arsed? Sometimes doing the square root of f-all is utter bliss. Embrace the nothingness. Jean Jullien is an artist whose work regularly resonates with our inner psyche and social interactions; regularly commentating on the modern world and dependence upon technology.
In FLAT OUT — an exhibition presented by DIFT Gallery, and hosted at the brilliant WATT event space in Ghent, Belgium — the French illustrator explores the latent quality that exists in all of us to varying degrees: laziness. Whether it dominates us, or its occurrence is reserved as a guilty pleasure, idleness is an oft-overlooked, but always integral element in our make up — imitating paper cut-outs, Jullien’s eight life-sized steel sculptures (made by Bram Kerkhofs) embody the spirit of lethargy in all its glory and/or ignominy.
The first time the London-based artist’s work has been displayed on such scale in Belgium, FLAT OUT also represents a departure from the work and disciplines he’s renowned for; reflecting a diverse body of work that has snowballed from a simple aesthetic.
Jean Jullien’s FLAT OUT continues at WATT Gent, until 31 August.
Photography, Wouter Maeckelberghe / Ine Savenberg
