A poetic pause: Aldo Bakker presents a solo show at CID Grand-Hornu
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Aldo Bakker is a designer that takes the concept of shape and purpose to extraordinary levels. His epic stylistic waves, poetic leaps and juxtaposed domestic uses are memorable and always recognisable. In an exhibition titled ‘Pause’, his artful oeuvre, straddling craftsmanship and sculpture, is being intimately presented at Belgium’s CID Grand-Hornu.
Following on from explorations like ‘Containing Content’ that focused on the unusual silhouettes of his whimsical jugs, ‘Pause’ takes a similar tack, but allows the viewer to spend a little more time with all of his everyday pieces – the jugs, tables and vessels – in an artful absorption of their meaning.
Starting from a young age, Bakker had a unique way with working from scratch, always sketching his idiosyncratic shapes first; here he has designed the show itself, in pure Bakker studio aesthetics. ‘There are so many pieces that have to tolerate each other and complement each other,’ he explains. This interaction between the different pieces is almost animated, as evinced in his 2008 'Vinegar Flask'. Displayed in bulk, set across the floor together, the flasks happily talk to one another with their characteristic spouts, turning them into small creatures within the show.
‘Every piece get its own typical lighting; we worked with a light specialist and that changed between very sharp light and very soft light, warm, cold, moving light,’ Bakker continues. This optical influence gives his spaciously laid out, ornamental pieces extra depth, from the shadow of the swooping arms of his teapot – that makes it look as if it is about to run away – to the different hues, materials and finishes that possess a special gleam.
When discussing the sequence, and his intended audience reaction, he says, ‘you can make the relationships yourself. It is revealing a lot, but it’s not in your face, you have to look for it.’ And so we pause for yet another second, to ponder this wonderfully conceived Bakker world.
Pause’ allows the viewer to spend a little more time with Bakker’s everyday pieces – the jugs, containers and vessels – but in a more artistic context. Courtesy CID
He has designed the show itself, in pure Bakker studio aesthetics. Pictured left: ’Green Table’, 2015. Right: ’Pivot’, 2014.
‘There are so many pieces that have to tolerate each other and complement each other,’ he explains of the layout. Pictured: ’AlinetoB’, 2014.
The show’s lighting gives his spaciously laid out, ornamental pieces extra depth. Courtesy CID
The shadow of the swooping arms of Bakker’s teapot makes it look as if it is about to run away. Courtesy CID
’You can make the relationships yourself. It is revealing a lot, but it’s not in your face, you have to look for it.’ Pictured left: ’Tonus’, 2010. Right: ’Pipe’, 2015
INFORMATION
’Aldo Bakker: Pause’ is on view until 14 August. For more information, visit the CID Grand-Hornu website (opens in new tab)
ADDRESS
Site du Grand-Hornu
Rue Sainte-Louise
82 B-7301
Hornu
VIEW GOOGLE MAPS (opens in new tab)
-
S94 Design makes the most of its uptown location to blur the lines of art and design
S94 Design brings displays from Kwangho Lee, Donald Judd, Max Lamb and more to its Rafael Viñoly-designed location
By Julie Baumgardner • Published
-
Oasi Cashmere is taking Zegna back to its roots in the Italian Alps
Oasi Cashmere – an environmentally-conscious, all-embracing cashmere collection – is inspired by the Oasi Zegna nature park in the lush Biella Alps
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Lynda Benglis’ seductive hall of mirrors and juicy neon eggs in London
American artist Lynda Benglis subverts expectations with new bronze sculptures and otherworldly coloured eggs in a new solo show at Thomas Dane Gallery, London
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Amsterdam photography exhibitions: what not to miss
We spotlight the best Amsterdam photography exhibitions to visit this Autumn
By Sophie Gladstone • Last updated
-
New dance performance features costumes made of spider silk
Mist is the second collaboration between choreographer Damien Jalet and artist Kohei Nawa, with spider silk costumes designed by Sruli Recht
By Mary Cleary • Last updated
-
Photographing the defiance and opulence of Europe’s contemporary Ballroom scene
In his ongoing series, photographer Dustin Thierry charts the ‘emancipatory possibilities of expression’ in Ballroom culture across Europe
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Last updated
-
Viviane Sassen's Huis Marseille show is drenched in history, melancholy and intrigue
Through photography and collage, Dutch artist Viviane Sassen examines the tempestuous history of the Palace of Versailles
By Jessica Klingelfuss • Last updated
-
Drift’s poetic drone installation takes flight for Netherlands’ Liberation Day
The Dutch artist duo staged a special iteration of Franchise Freedom above Rotterdam this week, flying 300 illuminated drones in formation to send a message of hope and encouragement in midst of the Covid-19 pandemic
By TF Chan • Last updated
-
Artist Katrien De Blauwer’s photomontages have us doing double takes
Her uncanny clippings offer a new way of seeing at Nederlands Fotomuseum
By Charlotte Jansen • Last updated
-
Polly Brown explores the friction-filled process of airport security checks
From colourful signage in Hokkaido to watery wavescapes in Miami, the artist’s series of x-ray damaged film photographs subverts the romance of travel
By Maisie Skidmore • Last updated
-
Dutch duo Scheltens & Abbenes embrace the ordinary to create the extraordinary
Maurice Scheltens and Liesbeth Abbenes celebrate 18 years of collaboration with a career-spanning survey of commercial and personal work at Foam photography museum in Amsterdam
By Sophie Gladstone • Last updated