Galerie Ron Mandos proudly presents Beyond Matter, Levi van Veluw’s fifth solo exhibition at the gallery. Entering Van Veluw’s dreamlike environments is a remarkable experience – you set foot in another reality. Instead of merely a spectator, you are the main protagonist.

30 March - 22 May

Initially working from an interest in form and materials, Van Veluw shifted his attention towards themes such as the transition between order and chaos. For Beyond Matter the artist added another layer of meaning to his work. Born as the grandson of a minister, he has been fascinated with the church and its rituals since his youth. In his recent work Van Veluw investigates the relation between the rational, the spiritual and the material. Even if spirituality is ultimately immaterial, most people practice their faith in places of worship, using sacred objects and performing holy rituals. What is this human desire to add a tangible dimension to faith? Where does idolatry begin? These questions form the starting point of Van Veluw’s research into the visual languages of religious contexts. Using shapes reminiscent of altars, idols and temples, he manages to evoke a convincing spiritual experience. Entering his installations feels like treading sacred ground. 

The floors, the walls and the ceiling are made of glass, behind which sacred-looking artefacts are  displayed like archeological finds from a mysterious cult. What happens to holy objects, once their spiritual meaning is lost to history? Beyond Matter sees Van Veluw using clay for the first time. This material has to be processed by hand entirely, which gives the sculptures an authentic, slightly irregular and organic character. Within the installation, these shapes form a stark contrast to the modernist, industrial steel and glass cube in which the visitor is suspended. 

About the artist

Levi van Veluw (1985, Hoevelaken, NL) works in a variety of disciplines, including scenographic installations, drawing and photography. His art, widely shown across Europe and the United States, earned him a number of nominations and awards including the International Photo Award. In the Netherlands his work is shown and collected by museums including Noordbrabants Museum, Den Bosch; Museum Arnhem; Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle; Singer Laren; Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag; Centraal Museum, Utrecht and Stedelijk Museum Schiedam. Van Veluw’s work can also be found in private collections such as Caldic Collection, Ekard Collection, Beth Rudin de Woody Collection and  corporate collections like KPMG. Van Veluw has exhibited internationally at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York and Ars Electronica, Linz, amongst others. He made installations for clients such as Hermès and his work is presented at international art fairs. One-person exhibitions were held at Marres, Maastricht (NL, 2016) and Domaine de Kerguéhennec (FR, 2018). This year, the artist has solo exhibitions at Tenuta Dello Scompiglio (IT) and Museum Het Hem (NL).

Van Veluw will present his new publication Beyond Matter on the final day of the exhibition. To pre-order a copy of this book, please send an e-mail to info [at] ronmandos.nl.