The exhibition project Middle Gate II – The Story of Dymphna is a collaboration between M HKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp) and the cultural centre de Werft in Geel. Middle Gate II is the follow up to the exhibition Middle Gate, curated by Jan Hoet in Geel in 2013. The exhibition concept is closely tied to the legend of the holy Dymphna, saint of the possessed, the mentally ill and patroness against epilepsy and insanity. The legend of Dymphna shares a strong connection to the identity of Geel, "the charitable city".

Middle Gate Geel '13

Courtesy Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf, image: (c) Willy Peeters
I have reduced you to juice and bones, 2009
Installation , 38 x 38 x 36 cm
Mixed media

The characters portrayed in the art of Canadian artist Jon Pylypchuk, are filled with unconditional empathy. At the same time, the hairy and cuddly beings confront the viewers with all the unsavoury traits of human character and the dark side of the social psychology. The main theme of Pylypchuk’s works is not surprisingly the naked state of the human condition. Besides gloom, his work also portrays an undeniable optimism: de dolls embody an underdog’s against-all-odds drive for meaningful existence in a barbaric world.

Made from the soberest materials (wood, left-over fabric, felt, glue), a poetic installation of sculptures is born. The wonky simplicity combined with a near childlike naivety touches the depths of our soul as viewers.

Jon Pylypchuk came to Belgium for Middle Gate Geel ’13 and worked together with the team at “het Kunsthuis Yellow Art”.