Born in 1976 in Oldenburg, Michael Beutler lives and works in Berlin. The internationally renowned German artist inaugurates the first edition of Bozar Monumental. Known for his ingenious large-scale architectural installations, Beutler creates engaging, playful works that spark the imagination. An inventive craftsman, he creates handmade tools that allow him to develop the materials needed for his constructions. These are usually simple, sustainable, locally sourced materials such as cardboard, paper, wood, or bamboo. Beutler’s work is open and constantly evolving, placing as much importance on the process – which is visible rather than hidden behind studio doors – as on the finished object.
A monumental “rotating gate”
For Bozar, Beutler has created a cylindrical structure that floats. It is made from printed wood (the pool and benches), bamboo (the carrying structure) and hand-made laminated steel-band and paper mesh (the skin). Perceived by the artist as a “rotating gate”, it turns with your help around a central axis in a pool of water.
After Pequod (2015, Hamburger Bahnhof), Beutler's installation at Bozar – 8 metres high and 13 metres in diameter – is the largest "rotating gate" the artist has ever created.
Viewers become part of the artwork
The installation invites the public to linger in the Horta Hall and experience the space in a new and lively way. Standing inside this monumental architectural construction, one might imagine the gate functioning as a film camera executing a long tracking shot, or as a giant zoetrope, the animation device that creates the illusion of movement. Seated on the benches, the sensation of movement could also evoke the feeling often experienced inside a train as it departs from a station. With this rotating gate, Beutler unsettles our senses and invites us to navigate the illusion of movement, encouraging a deeper observation of the surrounding volumes and architecture. The natural light changes daily, altering the mood of the space and making each experience unique.
Bozar - including Michael Beutler’s installation - will remain accessible all summer, without interruption. More info: www.bozar.be/en/spend-your-summer-bozar
Concept: Michael Beutler
Curated by: Zoë Gray & Christel Tsilibaris
Structural Partner: BNP Paribas Fortis
“Bozar Monumental harks back to architect Victor Horta’s original vision for our central hall: a space for monumental sculpture. This installation invites visitors to linger a little longer in this public square during the summer months. We seek out artists who are sensitive to the architecture of our monumental building, who work with sustainable materials, and who favour a locally rooted approach. With Bozar Monumental, we are catapulting the Sculpture Hall of the past into the new millennium.”
“With Bozar Monumental, we place artistic creation at the symbolic and physical heart of Bozar. By beginning the series with Michael Beutler, we also make the creation process visible to the public, who have been able to follow the build-up of the installation over the past few weeks.”
Beutler in Belgium
Solo exhibition at Z33 (Hasselt)
From 28 Sep.'25 to 22 Feb.'26, Z33 presents a major solo exhibition dedicated to Michael Beutler. The German artist includes new and existing work, and engages with the unique architecture of Wing 19.
>> www.z33.be/en/programma/michael-beutler/
Beutler's installation in the Scheldt Valley
Since 22 Feb.'25, a permanent artwork by Beutler has been installed on the dike of the Rupel, at the border of Boom and Rumst. Habitat is a brick landmark that pays tribute to the industrial history of clay.
Guided tours “Horta & Beutler"
2025 is the year of Art Deco in Brussels. This summer Bozar invite visitors to discover how contemporary sculpture meets Art Deco architecture in the 'Horta & Beutler' guided tour.
Bozar Monumental 2026
The next international artist invited for the Bozar Monumental. The BNP Paribas Fortis Series – in the summer of 2026 - is Colombian artist Delcy Morelos. For her monumental piece, Morelos draws on South American ancestral building techniques and European vernacular architecture. Using local, bio-sourced materials such as earth, clay, and fibres, her sensory works highlight the fundamental role of indigenous knowledge in maintaining both an ecological and spiritual balance.
