For his Matratzentraum, Guillaume Bijl meticulously transforms the exhibition space into a mattress store. Each detail is scrupulously considered including the price tags, cellophane-wrapped mattresses, signage, and fluorescent lighting. Bijl’s chosen form of installation is built on the premise of a fictional narrative wherein the art space is no longer of use to the public and has been rented out to a more functional business. The mattress, as a site, evokes rest, routine, and the basic need for shelter. Fundamental values of human life are stripped from their intrinsic nature and sold as a product, prompting a deeper investigation into the commodification of home. Bijl’s archaeology in real time within the context of an art fair, exposes the capitalist nature of ascribing value to basic human needs.<br /><br />Galerie Nagel Draxler in collaboration with Meredith Rosen Gallery.<br /><br />Guillaume Bijl (born 1946 in Antwerp) is known for his large-scale installations and visual realism. Since the late 1970s, he has created realistic decors using found objects and has played a pioneering role in the resurgence of the ready-made to create an ‘archaeology of our time.’ Bijl lives and works in Antwerp.
