Wim Delvoye: Cloaca

Perpetrator, prankster, unlicensed scatologist--Wim Delvoye wears many hats in this book documenting his exposure of certain hidden--often orifice-related--aspects of our existence. In his new monograph, this Belgian post-Pop artist continues to create works that transcend traditional categorical distinctions--when it comes to Delvoye, we speak not of painting or sculpture but of semiotic installations. His works Windroos, Xrub'se, and Concrete Mixer S.P. II--all documented here--debunk centuries of Western anal retentiveness in one fell poop. The remarkable list of authors whose texts contribute to this volume--including such luminaries as Georges Perec, Piero Camporesi, Raymond Roussel, Milan Kundera, John Berger, and Georges Bataille--testifies to the deep theoretical, literary, and of course artistic resonance of his work. Delvoye's work evidences a supreme humorous and creative intelligence rarely seen in today's art world--his work never fails to enlighten and entertain with its irreverence and style.