Gijs van Poecke sees his artistry as the modern interpretation of the Shaman. To him it was the totem that was the starting point of sculpture. He draws a connection between a mythological image (painting, stories or statues) and a totem. Because of this he would like to approach his sculptures as modern totems. Because he brings the sculptures from this subconscious, which is at first then still fantasy in his own world, to reality he indirectly influences the subconscious of the viewer.
To him it is important that his work always has a mythological potential. He plays with an abstract and mystical functionality of the objects to awaken the fantasy of the viewer. The viewer becomes invited to give his own interpretations to the work and build a personal connection. For Van Poecke is the mythological potential crucial to generate a powerful and almost inhuman energy within the viewer. Through little details Van Poecke brings a lot of dynamic into his work through which within the mind of the spectator the sculptures start moving.
His work draws mostly inspiration from the philosophy of Joseph Campbell and the totemistic principle from Emile Durkheim. He looks at different mythes from different places and time periods and combines them with inspiration from, Manga, the Heavy Metal scene and movies.
