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Flat Out: Jean Jullien stages his first exhibition of lazy illustrated sculptures

Flat Out is the first large-scale exhibition of sculptures by French illustrator Jean Jullien where he presents a series of eight steel artworks, all in his usual style and along the theme of laziness.

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Bright yellow steel sculpture of a seated figure at a desk with laptop in a light-filled gallery space with large windows

Recently on show at the Watt space at Gent's Dift Gallery, the bright coloured structures are made from sheets of bent metal with each piece resembling the outline of a person.

Jean Jullien‘s instantly recognisable signature style and observational take on modern life has seen him become one of the most sought after image-makers in the world. Often character based with his distinctive black line illustration style, his work is always well observed and very funny.

Last year, the illustrator extended his reach after sketching a combination of the Eiffel Tower and peace symbol as a mark of unity following the Paris terrorist attacks. The artwork went viral and was shared thousands of times around the world.

Via Watt | All images courtesy of Watt

Bright yellow steel sculpture of a figure hunched over a laptop at a desk, part of Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition exploring themes of laziness
Bright yellow steel sculptures resembling lazy figures in various resting poses are displayed across a spacious gallery with large windows and concrete flooring
Purple steel sculptures by Jean Jullien resembling reclining figures displayed in a bright gallery space with wooden flooring and natural light from large windows
Yellow steel sculpture of a slouching figure with a sad face, viewed from the front in a gallery space
Spacious gallery interior with wooden flooring, white support columns and large windows, displaying several colourful flat metal sculptures by Jean Jullien representing lounging figures
Sunlit gallery space displaying an orange curved steel sculpture and a green figure silhouette against white walls, part of Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition
Turquoise steel sculpture by Jean Jullien with bent metal sheets forming a figure with outstretched arms, viewed from above against a white background
Artist lies sprawled on the floor next to a yellow steel sculpture shaped like a person's legs in Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition
Bright orange steel sculpture of a seated figure with a simple face, part of Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition exploring themes of laziness
Bright orange steel sculpture resembling a seated figure in Jean Jullien's characteristic minimal line style, displayed in a gallery space with large windows
Two bright orange steel sculptures by Jean Jullien depicting simplified human figures in a minimalist style, displayed on a polished concrete floor in a sunlit gallery space with radiators and windows.
Bright orange steel sculpture of a figure sitting on the floor with its arms wrapped around its legs, in a minimalist style characteristic of Jean Jullien's work
Pink and red steel sculpture of a simplified figure with rounded head and outstretched arms, lying flat on a concrete floor by Jean Jullien
White cylindrical support pillar surrounded by red metal sculptures depicting reclining figures in Jean Jullien's characteristic style on a cork floor
A pink steel sculpture shaped like a reclining figure lies on a gallery floor, with an orange standing figure visible in the background near tall windows.
Red steel sculpture by Jean Jullien depicting a minimalist lounging figure with a simple smiley face, viewed from above on a concrete floor
A bright blue steel sculpture by Jean Jullien depicting a reclined figure in a minimalist line-drawing style, displayed in a sparse gallery space with radiators and windows
Blue steel sculpture with black line drawing face against terracotta textured background, part of Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition
Bright blue steel sculpture by Jean Jullien depicting a stylised figure with a sad face, consisting of geometric shapes arranged on a wooden gallery floor
Purple steel sculpture by Jean Jullien with a simple face, composed of bent metal sheets forming a humanoid shape with splayed feet in a bright gallery space
Purple bent steel sculpture by Jean Jullien resembling a reclining figure with a white band across the middle, displayed on a concrete floor
Purple bent steel sculpture with a simple smiling face drawn in black lines, tilted at an angle in a bright gallery space
Flat yellow and cream coloured steel sculpture resembling a reclining figure with elongated limbs, part of Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition
A pale green steel sculpture lying flat on wooden flooring, shaped like a simplified figure with curved forms and angular cutouts, part of Jean Jullien's Flat Out exhibition
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