David Huycke: Risky Business. 25 Years of Silver Objects

The Belgian artist first made his name primarily with his tableware sets, reduced design and mastery of material; today, however, he is known above all for his innovative use of the traditional technique of granulation. His structures of small spheres are not actually constructed according to a predefined concept but rather grow in an organic way – until they form a complete surface. The decision of where to place these spheres is not made until the very moment they fuse together. The format and proportions of the objects are therefore directly linked to the process of creation.

In this, the forms are reduced to their very essence, and even though they may sometimes be suggestive of a vase or a bowl, this is not their actual purpose: the aim of the objects is purely sculptural. Huycke himself describes them as the results of fundamental research at the limits of creative and material possibilities combined with the aim of making the work even bigger, thinner, heavier – and thus even more ambitious.

Twenty-five years of silversmithing are brought to life before the reader’s eyes in numerous object photos and large-format detailed shots. A comprehensive review of the oeuvre of David Huycke, one of the most renowned proponents in his field.