Joost Pauwaert - The End Is Near

BARBÉ : Penitentenstraat 29 and Baudelostraat 23, 9000 Gent
On view until 15th of December 2024.

Nocturne Saturday 30 November 2024
16.00 : presentation video ‘Apocalyptic Triumph Parade’
17:00: Q&A w/ Simon Delobel (art historian and director at KIOSK)
19:00: concert by Ewout Lehoucq (performer, bas/bariton and cellist)

Joost Pauwaert, Video of the performance 'Apocalyptic Triumph Parade' executed on 26 October 2024 from 16.00 - 16.45 through the historic city center of Ghent. HR video, 08min06sec

Read the exhibition text by Gertjan Oskar here (EN & NL)

Joost Pauwaert (1985, Bretzenheim, DE) ’s work explores the relationship between power, beauty, and poetry, often infused with a playful, childlike curiosity. He integrates familiar and symbolic imagery that evokes both recognition and tension. Pauwaert is drawn to the aesthetic of the imposing and the monumental, balancing this with a sense of the caricatural and symbolic wonder that softens its intensity and opens up imaginative possibilities.

Apocalyptical Triumph Parade

The exhibition opens with a triumphal procession staged by Pauwaert, moving through the historic center of Ghent. This procession is not only a homage to the past but also offers a new form of art experience for the present.

Pauwaert draws inspiration from various sources for the form and atmosphere of the procession such as historical references: The sense of grandeur that an 18th or 19th-century spectator must have felt when watching an army march through a city – with operatic uniforms, marching bands, and the rhythmic cadence of soldiers’ boots. An overwhelming, energetic sensation filled with potential. Pauwaert revisits the rich history of processions, referencing artists like Albrecht Dürer, who created the Triumphal Chariot for Emperor Maximilian. Pauwaert aims to breathe new life into this ancient tradition of triumphal parades, offering a completely different art experience. Personal Inspiration: The artist was also influenced by reading Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev with his son Francis. Francis was always most excited about the triumphal procession at the end of the story, which inspired Pauwaert to create his own version of a processionThe procession, which begins at 16.00 at Sint-Baafsplein and ends around 16.30 at the gallery, is a cross between different cultural and historical parades: a Napoleonic regiment, a Soviet parade, a Palestinian funeral procession where shots are fired into the air, and a carnival parade. The result is an eclectic, powerful spectacle full of symbolism and drama. The sculptures and installations transported through the city play a central role in this performance such as a cart featuring a “moving state of emergency,” complete with a clock tower, church bell, and cannons.

The Quest for the Perfect Mushroom Cloud

The second part of the exhibition centers on Pauwaert’s three-year quest to capture the perfect mushroom cloud – an iconic symbol of both destruction and creation. This fascination began during his performance “A New Study for the End of the World”, in which he first discovered the shape of the mushroom cloud and subsequently focused on researching and perfecting it. The mushroom cloud, a reference to nuclear explosions, represents Pauwaert’s exploration of the aesthetics of power and destruction.

The audience is confronted with installations, sculptures, and multimedia works that expose both the beauty and the grimness of the mushroom cloud. At the same time, Pauwaert invites viewers to reflect on the visual and emotional impact of apocalyptic imagery.

The Sculptures from the Procession

The third part of the exhibition consists of the sculptures that were carried in the triumphal procession. These works – initially part of the performance – are now isolated and presented in the gallery space. Here, visitors can closely observe the details of the objects, and the sculptures take on new meaning as relics of the performance, serving as both art objects and historical symbols.

About Joost Pauwaert

Joost Pauwaert combines sculpture, performance, and installation to explore the complex relationship between power, beauty, and destruction. His work often evokes a sense of both wonder and discomfort, as he navigates the fine line between glorifying destructive beauty and revealing human vulnerability. Pauwaert’s oeuvre is deeply symbolic, frequently employing rituals and historical references to open new perspectives on societal and personal themes. In “The End Is Near”, he returns to his fascination with monumental forms and mobilizing energies, offering a clear gaze on both the past and the future.

This exhibition marks a milestone in both Pauwaert’s career and the history of the gallery and invites visitors to be swept away by this unique apocalyptic experience.

Joost Pauwaert works and lives in Zwijnaarde, BE. His solo 'The End Is Near' will be his 2nd solo exhibition at BARBÉ. In the past years his works have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions during several gallery group show at BARBÉ and other venues such at Ooidonk Art Festival, C-MINE in Genk, Art Brussels w/ Dauwens & Beernaert, Art Cologne w/ Galerie Eric Mouchet (FR), Archipel at Deweer Gallery Estate (Otegem), Art Rotterdam w/ BARBÉ, Ponti gallery (Antwerp), Pizza gallery (Antwerp), Gevaertsdreef (Oudenaarde), PASS kunstroute (Lede) and Emergent in Veurne.

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