Vincent Meessen

Kunsthalle Basel, Basel

Framing these, Meessen's elaborate scenography for the exhibition is more than a display device, it is, in his words, a 'constructivist scenario'.

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Patterns for (Re)cognition is the first exhibition in Switzerland of the Belgian artist Vincent Meessen (*1971), who will represent Belgium at this year’s Venice Biennale. Meessen’s research-based practice often includes investigations into gaps in the writing of history, particularly colonial histories. In line with that, Meessen will use his show to present an array of modular structures, found 16-millimeter films, a sound piece, and other collected objects built around a selection of 1930s abstract paintings by the little known Congolese painter Thela Tendu (ca. 1890 – ca. 1960).

Meessen here acts as both featured artist and curator of what will be the largest exhibition to date of Tendu’s abstract work (including many pieces never shown publicly before). Framing these, Meessen’s elaborate scenography for the exhibition is more than a display device, it is, in his words, a “constructivist scenario” producing the conditions for legibility of Tendu’s stunning abstractions and the colonial history to which they testify. Realized in partnership with the Royal Library of Belgium and with the support of Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso para el Arte.

Press Contact:
Claudio Vogt, Head of Press and Public Programs
press@kunsthallebasel.ch or +41 61 206 99 11.

Opening: February 12, 2015, 7 pm

Kunsthalle Basel
Steinenberg 7
CH-4051 Basel
Tue / Wed / Fri 11am–6pm
Thu 11am–8.30pm
Sat / Sun 11am–5pm

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