ABOUT

Metamorphic Art Studio is a collective of artists consisting of Xaveer Claerhout, Barbara Van Biervliet, artists & architects and Adriaan Claerhout, artist. They share a common fascination for the poetry of transition from straight lines and surfaces to curved ones. By adding a metamorphic aspect to their works, an additional dimension of times is added.Metamorphic design and architecture Based on this fascination, the artists of Metamorphic Art Studio developed the first prototypes of deformable light objects in 2006, supplemented with a corresponding patent.   In 2008, first in Manhattan New York and then in an exhibition in Verona, the principle of “Metamorphism, towards a new Kinetic Architecture” was launched under the curatorship of Adriano Berengo. It is a new form of aesthetics in which an artifact is able to physically transform based on the flexible bending of certain parts. The artifact metamorphoses and comes to life.   The Kinetower is an architectural, artistic embodiment of this transformation aesthetic, acting as a visual manifesto. Meanwhile, the film of this metamorphic skyscraper that comes to life, is taking on a life of its own on the internet. A patent was also filed in line with the deformable slat system used. Thanks to the formal metamorphosis that takes place in relation to its function and practical use, the building acquires a fundamentally organic dimension. This organic dimension does not arise because the artefact parametrically tries to imitate all kinds of natural organic appearances, but because the artefact has the physical capacity to adapt itself interactively and process-wise to the needs of the moment, using smart drive systems and flexible composite materials. You could also call this metamorphic principle a 4-dimensional modernism. It is faithful to the principle of ‘Form Follows Function’, but then supplemented with the fourth dimension of transformation that allows the architecture to adapt according to the circumstances. To make this metamorphosis possible on a smaller scale, the artists have designed a Metamorphic Unit. An artwork or a specific architectural application such as lighting appliances, air valves, furniture applications, etc. are made smart via this Metamorphic Unit. The unit allows certain parts of the artefact to be automatically deformed in a silent, slow and flexible manner.   Immediately upon the launch of the first metamorphic artworks and artifacts, the response was one of a deep and universally rooted logic of bringing together an open form with lots of air and intense light, and a closed form with less air and warmer light. Through this metamorphosing synergetic combination of these elements the artefact comes to life, at least that is how it is experienced almost universally by the users or viewers. The analogy with organic life seems at hand.   For years, the artists of Metamorphic Art Studio have created artworks within this context – both digital and physical – that try to push the boundaries of many domains. By consistently exploring these boundaries, they were able to bring different domains closer together. You can find the various searches for possibilities and creations via the website of Metamorphic Art Studio.  Additional to the concept of ‘the Kinetower’, other artistic architectural concepts such as ‘the  Kinestage’ and ‘the Kinestore’ were given shape in 2009. A metamorphosing kitchen, called ‘the Kinekitchen’ was also devised. A unique combination of transforming air and light valves was also elaborated, together with a metamorphosing kitchen extractor hood. Crystal chandeliers have been revived to become living light sculptures, subtly bouncing light in constantly changing directions. Bedside lights are opening and closing, following the circadian rhythm of the day. For Kinetura – meanwhile Kinetura by Tekna – the artists designed numerous metamorphosing lamps. An iconic lamp named the ‘New York Lamp’ is the artistic translation of ’the Kinetower’ on a human scale. This light object makes now part of the permanent collection of the Musée du Centre Pompidou in Paris. Physical versus Virtual Reality The artists of Metamorphic Art Studio believe in the rapidly developing metaverse, insofar as it is sufficiently decentralized and can be further developed and maintained in an energy-efficient manner. They believe in the importance of NFTs and smart contracts to give artists, among others, more freedom of movement, recognition and a correct remuneration. The virtual reality wants to measure itself – at all costs – with physical reality. It tries to cannibalize physical reality. The amount of creatives making wonderful work within this virtual reality is dazzling. Today’s parametric design and manufacturing possibilities, additionally supported by scanning and 3D printing capabilities, are a logical foundation for enabling four-dimensional metamorphosing art, design and architecture. At the crossroads where metamorphic reality and the metaverse could merge, a completely new and fascinating world is arising in which physical reality will become more cinematic and the virtual world will become more reality. On the interesting intersection between physical and virtual reality opens up a new canvas for the artists of Metamorphic Art Studio. In analogy to Lucio Fontana who cut open a new world by adding a third dimension to his 2-dimensional canvas, Metamorphic Art Studio wants to create fundamentally new artworks by adding the fourth dimension of transformation. The metamorphic painting ‘Cuts’ is the embodiment of this ambition and makes part of the permanent collection of the Musée du Centre Pompidou in Paris since 2015.