Michel de Broin

Watch This Space

The fulfillment of desire and unchecked realizations are handled in Michel de Broin’s work. “Bleed” positions a common household drill as a scarred fountain. Pierced to death, in a reversal of its own power, the tool rests on a pedestal as endless streams of water flow from five holes in its dead body. Exploiting its circular and self-reflexive narrative, the piece poses unanswerable questions of its creation and destruction. Might the object have been left out accidentally by gallery staff before opening the exhibition? Is it really part of the exhibition? A literal confrontation with the ritualistic unseen action and sacrifice for the sake of display – its reality is troubled. This piece was part of a group show “Theatrical Properties” at Bitforms Gallery, NYC in Summer 2010.