Yücel Kale (1971, Istanbul ) studied art in the sculpture department of fine arts faculty of Mimar Sinan Universty from 1993-2000. He had his first one man show in 1993, and has had three more since then. He has also shown in and many curated thematic shows. He has taken part in several sculpture symposiums in Turkey and in Greece. In 2000 he won the second prize in the Sakip Sabanci Encauragement Awards in the field of sculpture. His last solo show “zzzzzzzzz” was at Gallery Apel in November 2002. In 2003 he participated in the annual Plastic Arts Festival at METU ( Ankara ) as an invited artist.  

As it can easily be guessed by the title, this installation is a group of wooden sculptures of insects, rather hybrid – insects, that startle the viewer with their human features.

If one considers the clues in Kale's earlier work, which had displayed his interest in all living beings, the meanings he attaches to his hybrid – insects do not seem exaggerated at all. At the end of the 90's, Kale produced sculptures and performances predominantly related to shamanism.

In Anatolia one can still find traces and practices of shamanism, a belief which is based on animism where all living creatures are sacred. Kale transforms this age-old tradition into sculptures of hybrid – insects full of mystic symbolism.

The sculptures are mainly made of wood; some are painted while some are left plain. There are a few exceptions, like dried squashes and metal or polyester wings. All are tied to the ceiling in such a way that as soon as a movement is started by an insect the rest follows the leader. In this vast performance, when one jumps vertically, the others approach the viewer, creating a circus like scenery.