Danny Devos
Encyclopedia
Danny Devos also known as DDV (born in Vilvoorde
, 1959) is a Belgian artist whose work involves body art
and performance art
and a fascination with true crime
.
Since 1979 he has done over 100 performances and made several sculptural installations depicting violence, crime and murder. Since 1987 he has been corresponding with serial killers like Freddy Horion and Michel Bellen in Belgium and John Wayne Gacy
in the USA.
In 1981 he founded the artist initiative Club Moral
with Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven
.
From 1998 until 2004 he was Social Commissioner and chairman of the NICC, the first association of Visual Artists in Belgium
, where he was in charge of the Social Statute of the Artist.
In 2005 he moved to Beijing
in China
to develop and manage Art Farm for colleague artist Wim Delvoye
.
His latest piece 'Diggin' for Gordon', inspired by Gordon Matta-Clark
, is performed at a secret location and can only be seen by the audience through a webcam
.
Club Moral
is also a pioneer noise
band.
Apart from solo sound concerts, he also performs with Bum Collar, an improvisational noise
band with Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven
on electronics, Mauro Pawlowski
on guitar, and Paul Mennes engineering and browntones.
Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
, 1959) is a Belgian artist whose work involves body art
Body art
Body art is art made on, with, or consisting of, the human body. The most common forms of body art are tattoos and body piercings, but other types include scarification, branding, scalpelling, shaping , full body tattoo and body painting.More extreme body art can involve things such as mutilation...
and performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
and a fascination with true crime
True crime (genre)
True crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
.
Since 1979 he has done over 100 performances and made several sculptural installations depicting violence, crime and murder. Since 1987 he has been corresponding with serial killers like Freddy Horion and Michel Bellen in Belgium and John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
in the USA.
In 1981 he founded the artist initiative Club Moral
Club Moral
Club Moral is a Belgian noise band formed in 1981 by Danny Devos and Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven based in Antwerp, Belgium . They are known for their controversial performances and imagery. In 2001 "Dylan" briefly joined the band...
with Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven
Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven
Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven is a Belgian artist whose work involves painting, drawing, computer art and video art.-Biography:Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven was born in Antwerpen and lives in Antwerpen and Berlin....
.
From 1998 until 2004 he was Social Commissioner and chairman of the NICC, the first association of Visual Artists in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where he was in charge of the Social Statute of the Artist.
In 2005 he moved to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to develop and manage Art Farm for colleague artist Wim Delvoye
Wim Delvoye
Wim Delvoye is a Belgian neo-conceptual artist known for his inventive and often shocking projects. Much of his work is focused on the body. He repeatedly links the attractive with the repulsive, creating work that holds within it inherent contradictions- one does not know whether to stare, be...
.
His latest piece 'Diggin' for Gordon', inspired by Gordon Matta-Clark
Gordon Matta-Clark
Gordon Matta-Clark was an American artist best known for his site-specific artworks he made in the 1970s. He is famous for his "building cuts," a series of works in abandoned buildings in which he variously removed sections of floors, ceilings, and walls.-Life and work:Both of Gordon Matta-Clark's...
, is performed at a secret location and can only be seen by the audience through a webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
.
Club Moral
Club Moral
Club Moral is a Belgian noise band formed in 1981 by Danny Devos and Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven based in Antwerp, Belgium . They are known for their controversial performances and imagery. In 2001 "Dylan" briefly joined the band...
is also a pioneer noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
band.
Apart from solo sound concerts, he also performs with Bum Collar, an improvisational noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
band with Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven
Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven
Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven is a Belgian artist whose work involves painting, drawing, computer art and video art.-Biography:Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven was born in Antwerpen and lives in Antwerpen and Berlin....
on electronics, Mauro Pawlowski
Mauro Pawlowski
Mauro Antonio Pawlowski is one of the key figures in the Belgian contemporary music scene. He was born in Koersel and is of Italian and Polish descent....
on guitar, and Paul Mennes engineering and browntones.
Solo exhibitions
- In Memory of Ed GeinEd GeinEdward Theodore "Ed" Gein - July 26, 1984) was an American murderer and body snatcher. His crimes, committed around his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin, gathered widespread notoriety after authorities discovered Gein had exhumed corpses from local graveyards and fashioned trophies and keepsakes...
(Ruimte Morguen) 1987 - Belgium's Most Bizarre Artist (Ruimte Morguen) 1989
- De Moorden in Ruimte Morguen (Ruimte Morguen) 1991
- True Crime Art (Galerie Transit) 1991
- The Red Spider of Katowice 1993
- De Wurger / The Strangler (Galerie Annette De Keyser) 1994
- De Vampier van Muizen 1994
- Daders van Dodingen / Perpetrators of Death (Galerie Annette De Keyser) 1996
- Ons Geluk (with Luc TuymansLuc TuymansLuc Tuymans is a contemporary artist who lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium. Tuymans is considered one of the most influential painters working today. His signature figurative paintings transform mediated film, television, and print sources into examinations of history and memory.-Life:Tuymans...
) 1997 - Speech Regained (Pranakorn Bar & Gallery) 2000
- Thai Boy Slim (Galerie Annette De Keyser) 2000
Group exhibitions (selection)
- Untitled (Ruimte Z) 1979
- 1980 (ICC) 1980
- Van Drang tot Dwang (Club Moral) 1983
- De Dood (K4) 1984
- Automobiënnale (Middelheim) 1985
- Antichambres 1986
- Het Onding Kunst (Stalker) 1988
- Wahrheit und Dichtung (Galerie Maerz) 1989
- Prime Time (w139) 1989
- Woord en Beeld (MuHKA) 1992
- Wunschmaschinen (WUK/Wolkersdorf) 1993
- Transfer (Gent/Recklinghausen/Charleroi) 1994
- De Rode Poort (SMAK) 1996
- Beeldberichten (KMSKA) 1996
- Alter Ego (Silpakorn University) 1999
- The Divine Comedy (Fort Asperen) 1999
- Pauvre Nous (Factor 44) 2004
- Dear ICC (MuHKA) 2004
- Voorbij Goed & Kwaad (Museum Dr. Guislain) 2006
- The Moss Gathering Tumbleweed Experience (NICC) 2007
- All That is Solid Melts into Air (De Maakbare Mens) (Stadsvisioenen) 2009