Guillaume Bijl

Self-taught artist Guillaume Bijl is mostly recognized for his alternative take on conceptual art, his desire to directly engage the viewer, and his Transformation Installations started in the late 1970s. In these works he realizes meticulous imitations of everyday realities in galleries and museums, mainly focusing on trade and exchange locations--whether in commodities, information, or skills. One of his most famous pieces is his groundbreaking Lustrerie Media installation shown in Art Basel in June 1984 for which he transformed the entire booth of his gallery into a light shop. Bijl's practice is however much richer and more diverse and largely goes beyond this landmark series. This reference monograph thus reveals the scope of his thinking and art during the last four decades. Published with Cultuurcentrum Mechelen, Mechelen.