Sculptor Julia Belova (born 1991) has created an installation especially conceived for the space of the Dominican Church in Krems. The Russian-born artist examines the architecture and history of the secularized building in a thrilling way. She creates a monumental sculpture exploring the interconnections between traditional craftsmanship, modern materials, and feminist and queer perspectives.
Iron and Porcelain
Materiality plays a central role in Julia Belova's work. For her new installation, the artist explores the materials silicone, latex and aluminum for the first time. Materials that Belova explores in an intensive, experimental process. The main structure of the “Monstrum Sacrum” is made of steel. She works with the different materials with great precision, focusing on contrasts: she juxtaposes the steel, which has “masculine” connotations, with delicate, “feminine” materials. While porcelain and wax have been the main materials in her works to date, these familiar elements can also be found in her new chandeliers.
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Queer Baroque Aesthetics as an Artistic Stylistic Device
Julia Belova’s work is characterized by a sensual yet powerful visual language that combines elements of traditional European art history, especially from the Baroque period, with queer, feminist concepts. Belova addresses, among other things, a hostility toward pleasure in Christian teachings. She is thus responding to the modern understanding of sexuality, gender roles, and physicality. Her candlesticks, such as those shown in the exhibition 7 Deadly Sins at the Kunsthalle Krems (2023/24), reflect a queer, baroque aesthetic. This style has become Belova’s trademark.
A New Chapter in Artistic Practice
Julia Belova’s exhibition represents a new step in her artistic development. Her explorations of the materials of iron and porcelain, her reflections on the interaction between space and artwork, and the thematic focus on questions of sexuality, religion, and materiality open up new perspectives on contemporary sculpture.
Overall artistic concept: Julia Belova
Sound design: Lima Ernst
Cello: Julia Belova
Video: İpek Hamzaoğlu / Hekate Film Collective
Curator: Andreas Hoffer