I was recently at the Centre for Contemporary Art, Montevideo and was quite enchanted by this work. By Benoit Pype, this is a small, c.1m x 1m, table top installation of little mixed media sculptures or assemblages, each mounted on a little white plinth or cube, which vary in height from 1-2cm+. As I approached it, I thought it was some kind of crowd scene of tiny figures, but as my eyes were drawn in close I found these tiny little objects including many fibre things including bits of fluff, feathers, threads, little snippets of this and that, heavens knows what else, with possibly a sticky lolly or a dead beetle somewhere … I should go back to check; and maybe take a better camera. The title suggests he might have emptied his pockets regularly, but from the sounds of an interesting article by Michela Alessandrini about him “Benoît Pype handles the minuscule, collects the useless, and acclaims the waste.”

I had not heard or his work until I saw this one piece, and in the very short time I’ve been reading about him, this artist has become a favourite. Rather than give more links and quotes, I recommend you visit his website , make a coffee and take time to explore his approach to his art, revel in the excellent photography and enjoy his wonderful statements about his work. (“It is not necessary to go to the end of the world to travel, the adventure is at the bottom of a pocket, in my garden, around my house.” )