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// Wim Delvoye's Cloaca (2002) is a provocative mixed media sculpture exploring the intersection of art, science, and consumerism. Encased in a clear, rectangular acrylic box, the sculpture contains a preserved, realistic-looking organic form that mimics human waste, challenging societal taboos around bodily functions. The artist’s signature branding, similar to product labels, is visible on the case, ironically juxtaposing corporate marketing with human biology. Delvoye’s work critiques the commodification of the human body and consumer culture, pushing viewers to confront their discomfort and question the boundaries between art and the grotesque.
Cloaca, 2002
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17 x 21 X 4.5 cm
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- Centimeters
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Details
Artist
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// Wim Delvoye's Cloaca (2002) is a provocative mixed media sculpture exploring the intersection of art, science, and consumerism. Encased in a clear, rectangular acrylic box, the sculpture contains a preserved, realistic-looking organic form that mimics human waste, challenging societal taboos around bodily functions. The artist’s signature branding, similar to product labels, is visible on the case, ironically juxtaposing corporate marketing with human biology. Delvoye’s work critiques the commodification of the human body and consumer culture, pushing viewers to confront their discomfort and question the boundaries between art and the grotesque.
What is Kitsch?
Kitsch is a term used to describe cheap, commercial, sentimental, or vulgar art and objects commonly associated with popular culture. The word is borrowed from German, where it originally means trash. Since the 1920s, kitsch has been used to denote the opposite of high art, often implying that the work lacks sophistication or artistic merit.