Guillaume Bijl's Hyperreal Installations at Galerie Allen

Guillaume Bijl, a major figure in Belgian contemporary art, presents 'Compositions and Sorry’s' at Galerie Allen in Paris from May 29 to July 20, 2019. Bijl, emerging in the 1980s alongside European and American artists, reappropriates reality by assembling found objects from markets, souvenir shops, and flea markets into hyperreal 'sets' that blur the line between reality and reconstruction. His works, indistinguishable from their real-world counterparts except for their location in art spaces, include 'Compositions trouvées' (assembled objects) and larger 'Installations' that recreate professional environments like driving schools, fallout shelters, shooting ranges, car dealerships, dog beauty salons, and wig or lighting stores. These installations carry a critical connotation, exploiting the ambiguity between reality and fiction. The Galerie Allen space, a former shop on Rue de Dunkerque, enhances the illusion, making it impossible for the uninitiated to distinguish from a souvenir store. The 'Sorry' series introduces an absurd element that sows doubt. Bijl's work holds a mirror to contemporary consumer society, pushing stereotypes to extremes without appearing to do so.