Guido KELL

Artist, Airline Captain Antwerp (1978-)

KELL is the son of an engineer father and an artistic mother. From a young age, he felt a strong urge to create. He spent time drawing, dreaming, and building with his father's tools in his workshop, becoming an autodidact who sketched and sculpted his ideas into reality.

His inspiration comes from both nature and mechanics, an exploration of the relationship between man-made and natural objects. His fascination with flight led him to pursue a career as an airline pilot, as he believes that "aviation is both technicality and poetry, both functionality and aesthetics."

KELL's creative approach is both versatile and pragmatic. He carefully selects his materials, utilizing a range of substances: paper, clay, expansion foam, wood, and metal. He frequently repurposes and combines elements from radio-controlled models, bicycles, antique clocks, and toys to bring his vision to life.

His work reflects the interaction between nature and mechanics, serving as a mirror to humanity and prompting viewers to consider our relationship with the environment, often marked by absurdity and humor.

KELL also engages with the duality of Homo Deus: the concept of man playing God, using technology and knowledge for both good and evil.

For instance, his sculptures "Landfish" and "Turtus Volants" represent a critical effort to protect species that have been displaced from their original habitats due to human activity.