Informed by his background in architecture and driven by a fascination with antiquity, Nick van Woert claims to “hijack” the art historical past to create his striking, wry sculptures.
A strong sense of history – both natural and human – unites his prolific output. He cites Vitruvius, the early Roman architect who was inspired by nature, as a significant influence. Like an urban archeologist, van Woert combs through the convenience stores, factories and dumpsters in Brooklyn to source materials for his sculptures, which he then re-presents in elegant works.
Nick van Woert creates complex installations, hybrid classifications of work tools or hunting weapons, archaeological objects seen through the lens of a transmission of knowledge and techniques for the potential sabotage of the world order.
From the need to know and verify what surrounds us, and a desire to highlight the manufacturing process and structure of things, arises the artist’s use of reproductions of classical statues, in which Greco-Roman styles find new forms and meanings in the encounter/clash with industrial materials, organic waste, sand and metals.
Van Woert currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He studied architecture (BArch) at the University of Oregon and Fine Arts (MFA) at Parsons the New School for Design in New York.
Images courtesy of Nick van Woert
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