Stefan Rinck's Stone Sculptures Mix Flintstones and Hieroglyphs at Sorry We're Closed

German sculptor Stefan Rinck (b. 1973) presents new stone works at Sorry We're Closed gallery in Brussels from January 30 to March 20, 2021. The exhibition, titled 'In this Garden, He Reads the Diary of the World,' features sculptures carved from diverse stones that blend ancient traditions—Egyptian, Greek, Aztec—with post-war comics and video game aesthetics. Rinck describes his approach as mixing the Flintstones with hieroglyphs. Notable pieces include 'Buffalo Croc,' a stylized crocodile-shaped bench that references the reptile's camouflage ability to resemble a floating log; 'Nessi,' a quartzite lizard recalling Inuit sculpture; and 'Cloudy Totem,' which reinterprets Native North American art through a video game lens. The works evoke an Edenic, pacified universe where wild animals pose no threat, reminiscent of Disney. Critic Richard Leydier draws comparisons to another German sculptor, Stefan Balkenhol, who similarly engages with sculptural traditions in wood. Rinck aims to transport viewers into a parallel world.