Belgian conceptual artist Koen Vanmechelen (1965) is internationally renowned for his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project, a worldwide artistic breeding project.

His work, an ode to life, revolves around two major themes: biocultural diversity and identity.

His artistic tool is gallus gallus, the chicken, and its egg.

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www.koenvanmechelen.be

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Credits in order of appearance (top to bottom):

1. Photo: Christoff Baldinger

2. Photo: Stef Van Bellingen

3. Photo: Stoffel Hias

4. Photo: Inge Kindt

5. Photo: Minne Dalemans

6. Photo: Ivan Put

7. “Turbulence” Artist: Koen Vanmechelen

8. “The Cosmopolitan Chicken Project”  “Domestication”; Gallerie West, Den Haag, 2010; Photo: Koen Vanmechelen; Artist: Koen Vanmechelen ©

9. “Energy, Communication and Life” Artist: Koen Vanmechelen ©

10. “The Cosmopolitan Chicken Project” “Breaking the Cage”; IKOB, Museum für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Eupen 2011-10-17; Photo: Koen Vanmechelen; Artist: Koen Vanmechelen ©

11. “The Cosmopolitan Chicken Project” “Ebb and Flow”; Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen, 2008; Courtesy: Deweer Gallery; Photo: Philippe Van Gelooven; Artist: Koen Vanmechelen ©

12. “The Cosmopolitan Chicken Project” “Modified Spaces”; Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, 2011; Photo: Koen Vanmechelen; Artist: Koen Vanmechelen ©

13. Photo: Stoffel Hias

14. Photo: Alex Deyaert

15. “The Cosmopolitan Chicken Project” “The Appeal of the chicken”; Museum Valkhof, Nijmegen, 2008; Courtesy: Deweer Gallery; Photo: Minne Dalemans; Artist: Koen Vanmechelen ©

16. Photo: Stoffel Hias