Whimsically titled “Mumbo? Perhaps... Jumbo? Perhaps not!”, William Fort's 4th solo exhibition in Antwerp showcased the artist’s wit, ingenuity and exceptional draughtsmanship. Exemplifying his signature practice of reconfiguring and re-contextualizing art historical and pop culture references, and semantic use of text, the show, which just closed its doors, featured a new series of drawings and sculptures that Fort created during the past year in response to the strange times we're living through.
Characterised by their photorealism, Fort’s pencil and pastel drawings were presented in diptychs: a image paired with a word or a phrase that reinforce each other in the spirit of artists like John Baldessari, Ed Rusha, and Karl Haendel. Add in the pun-centric titles that provide an additional layer of irony and wit to the absurdist imagery, and two surrealist sculptures (a giant tree-sized car freshener and a porcelain candle-holder in the form of a butt plug) and you get an idea of Fort’s comedic ethos and subversive sensibility.
Eric David
The Mount / diptych / unique / 2021 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 100 x 140 cm + 56 x 76 cm
The search / diptych / unique / 2021 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 56 x 76 cm + 40 x 54 cm
The great indoors / unique / 2021 / wooden sculpture / 180 x 107 x 2,5 cm
Despite my huge talent, I’ve always managed to remain true to myself / diptych / unique / 2021 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 58 x 40 cm + 58 x 40 cm
The Oracle / diptych / unique / 2020 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 45 x 60 cm + 75 x 94 cm
Zweistein / triptych / unique / 2021 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 65 x 50 cm + 65 x 50 cm + 65 x 50 cm
Nightlight (edition of 5) / 2021 / porcelain sculpture / custom crate / 10 x 15 cm
Not yet* *How about now / unique / 2021 / Painting / 433 x 350 cm
The collector / diptych / unique / 2021 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 90 x 106 cm + 63 x 74 cm
The confession / diptych / unique / 2020 / pencil & pastel on 225g Canson paper / framed / 47 x 57 cm + 47 x 57 cm