Hantrax Dolls – A doll made by talking

Hantrax Dolls is an artistic project by Antwerp-based composer, musician and performer Han Swolfs, better-known as Hantrax. A key protagonist of the Antwerp underground, Hantrax’s live performances of electronic music in particular create atmospheres of vitality and hypnotism. His life of creativity is so unbridled to extent that that he is equally embraced by Antwerp’s creative community, including its visual artists and designers as much as the music scene.

Hantrax Dolls is an ongoing project by the artist in which making a doll is part of his daily ritual. For Hantrax, these everyday dolls are ‘non-intentional’ creation, without a predetermined form, so intuition is the key. The exhibition shows a selection of his growing doll community with references from music, literature and the internet. During each exhibition, Hantrax organizes a workshop where he invites both artists and the public to give free rein to the creation of unique dolls, made from every conceivable material, no matter how ephemeral.  Hantrax invited artist and designer friends to participate, the workshop dolls are all labeled “Hantrax Dolls by …” and are added to the exhibition. Renowned names such as Ann Demeulemeester, Luc Tuymans, Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen, Vedran Kopljar, Kati Heck and many others all created their own Hantrax Doll. Each of these dolls has its own name and story, and together they form a growing community of symbols for free expression, fantasy, non-normativity and joy.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

o.a. Carla Arocha & Stéphane Schraenen, Guillaume Bijl, Ann Demeulemeester, Hantrax, Luc Tuymans, Clara Lissens, Messieurs Delmotte, Sietske Van Aerde, Floris Van Look, Nienke Baeckelandt, Filip Collin, Yves de Brabander, Kris Van Dessel, Ellen Pil, Shayli Harrison, Sven Rayen, Orphan Fairytale, Samyra Moumouh, Cedric Jacquemin, Jolijn Baeckelandt, Glints, Johan Pas, Christine Clinckx, Thor Salden, Lieven Seghers, Ken Verhoeven, Johanna Trudzinski, Emeline Descreaux, Meriton Maloku, Davide Zulli, Elko Blijweert,…