Trained as an architect, Nick van Woert (1979) is primarily interested in materials, their functions, and their potential meanings. He scours local supermarkets, trash containers, and street corners for usable ingredients for his remarkable sculptures, whether it be cat litter, PVC, or plastic. Van Woert seeks out what can still be understood as “nature.” The modern society may be artificial, but it fits us perfectly, almost like a second nature. Van Woert plays with this idea in his beautifully harmonious – almost poetic – installations, where he attempts to bring back the natural aspect from the artificial. He combines elements from classical antiquity with objects from contemporary disposable culture. Both the overpowering nature and American history and culture are key themes in his work. His work has an extraordinary topicality. The exhibition at GEM, Museum for Contemporary Art, is his first solo show at a Dutch museum and its invitation is now available at www.ftn-books.com
