Leyla AYDOSLU - 2020 VII (2020)

Aydoslu’s sculptures are the result of an instinctive working method in which the physical experience of the creation process takes centre stage. While looking for ways to connect the different elements, a sculptural tension arises. The limits of the artist’s own body determine how far she can go in working the materials and inevitably influence the final design. Her work often also features the interplay between the mould and the cast, a reference to negative and positive spaces. 

The artist has often had the opportunity to create sculptural structures to match the architectural style of their surroundings. However temporary or transient her artistic endeavours may be, she is always aware of her work’s contribution to the public space. The sculpture 2020 VII is no different.  

Aydoslu was mainly inspired by the brutalist buildings on the VUB campus surrounding her sculpture. As a result, it is not a stand-alone structure but rather an artwork that interacts with its environment. 

With its monumental dimensions, 2020 VII attracts the viewer’s attention from afar. It is reminiscent of a totem pole. In various cultures around the world, such as certain Native American tribes on the north-western coast of America, the totem pole has acted as a sanctuary and a family symbol since time immemorial. A totem pole on the university campus is therefore highly symbolic. Students spend several years of their lives living and studying on campus. They form a temporary clan with their fellow students and peers, and create memories that will last a lifetime.