DECONPYLING
Paraffin Wax Sculpture. (2023).
Damen Oosthuizen, Photographs of Deconpyling Series (2023), Paraffin Wax Sculpture.
ECHOES OF THE GRID
"Deconpyling" is a mixed-media installation by South African artist Damen Oosthuizen. The work is inspired by electricity pylons in Cape Town, which Oosthuizen reimagined into geometric shapes. These forms were carved in wood, pressed into sand molds, and cast in paraffin wax to create sculptural candles.
Each candle was carefully constructed with a wick, wax poured into the molds, and finished with silver spray paint to mimic the appearance of metal. The resulting forms are minimal, mechanical, and unified, resembling a pylon silhouette when grouped together.
The burning process unfolded over 95 minutes, with each candle burning at a different pace, leading to unpredictable collapse. Wax distortion, crumbling edges, and flames spreading to the wooden table framed "Deconpyling" as a meditation on system breakdown and corruption.
The work draws parallels between infrastructure, fragility, and entropy, questioning our relationship with industrial structures and energy. It presents a metaphor for the balance between structure and chaos.
Damen offers a compelling visual metaphor through fire and form, revealing the delicate balance between structure and chaos.
SASOL NEW SIGNATURES ART COMPETITION
This artwork was selected as a finalist for the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition 2024, held at the Pretoria Art Museum—one of South Africa's most respected platforms for emerging artists. My work was exhibited alongside other selected finalists and professionally packed and transported by Stuttaford Van Lines as part of the official exhibition process. This recognition reflects my continued exploration of material, structure, and meaning within a contemporary art context.