Drywall Wonders between Heaven and Earth
(2015)
Wall Installation for
Collective exhibition “GOOD WALLS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBOURS”
Valletta International Visual Arts Festival 2015, curated by Raphael Vella
4.2m x 2.4m x 0.24m
Timber, mirror, paint, lights, projection
including text-work by Bettina Hutschek
Wall Installation for
Collective exhibition “GOOD WALLS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBOURS”
Valletta International Visual Arts Festival 2015, curated by Raphael Vella
4.2m x 2.4m x 0.24m
Timber, mirror, paint, lights, projection
including text-work by Bettina Hutschek
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/67e98a2cce2a6408ea94864e72fb2d5676428cbf453e8b54f30fed19fea58aaf/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-21.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6304039e1b76376688d0ca7117ba6bf1367011ff1306fdbb7565907edf42e6e9/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-01.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/952a4d89bfea7de70e97c2d5d1d6d67f4c64af834e6dfce05a1455ce2ef34f43/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-08.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a4ef493253582e5cf3209bcd085abf7a09937edcc5ee384d4307333faedcb42f/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-04.jpg)
Based on the principle of a contemporary dry-wall structure, the wall installation delves into the idea of what might be on ‘the other side’. It plays with the elements typical to dry-wall structures: hidden cavities, functional supports and mass-produced stylized ornaments.
As a structure, a wall isolates a place and articulates relationships between the inner and the outer. It organizes the world of men between heaven and earth. A wall divides power, hides secrets, separates bodies, provides security and expresses identity.
The accompanying projected text piece suggests stories hidden within and beyond the wall, and sets a dialogue in motion between the inner and outer, structure and ornament, ideal and appearance.
“Behind the wall, an alarm goes off.
Behind the wall, a coffee is brewed.
Behind the wall, the smell of chicken and garlic is lingering on.
Behind the wall, the one-eyed kid is playing by himself.
…”
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/abc532ac272bd7ebe7368357ccfb5338a4c55bf206754ba2146a8d452d3ceea6/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-09.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/85ef612b2edeed3ab6a472a4acc76004966c1c13b2467e366e4da396c56f31fa/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-10.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d1cab83cbe6e2a4d2e24827481ec714047523882193426a20fd10e2ee4c8b6b/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-16.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffec2fdf45cecfa8b6a9c6c86843457be6ed88904125b04a044edc7ae580ff16/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-15.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/039c7638b291879356f5aa1267114971fe8c35f8c76e89ea7efafafeffe7752e/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-14.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffcafb3a313c2f797276b977e22c0a83882d211f76774f0f98b08864122d5aac/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-13.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ab5f6b70f5ba1b45a36259ff67dc755b4ff04ad6aaac633685a10ff4aff35cc2/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-12.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffc2dfbaa4f391942930b883805add432ecba090c81e105ce5176ceab347a803/Drywall-Wonders-Tom-Van-Malderen-11.jpg)