The gallery presents the second part of a special yearlong project by Belgian artist. For his second "chambre" artist revisits themes of identity and geography from the 3 June 1988 edition of his newpaper Kempens Informatieblad.
Erna Hecey Gallery is pleased to present the second part of a special yearlong project by Belgian artist Jef Geys.
During a one-year period, Jef Geys will create a room in the basement of the gallery in which he will show a selection of old and new works. A "Retrospective-Introspection," in the words of the artist, Geys' "chambre" is conceived as a shifting solo exhibition, an opportunity to reflect on past productions while proposing and experimenting with new ideas.
The room is approximately 3 x 4 meters with a door-sized opening, at the back of the space. Around every two months Geys will present a different arrangement of works.
For his second "chambre" Geys will revisit themes of identity and geography from the 3 June 1988 edition of his newpaper Kempens Informatieblad, with the cover image of a "cow passport" (in the mid-sixties Geys had visited cattle auctions with his father-in-law, and came across these cow identity papers detailing the animal's name, sex, birthdate, and vaccination history). Together with the cow passport are presented drawings of contours of human figures, recalling the tracings at crime scenes. "Drawings on the wall, painting on the floor, traces in the sand, all suggest temporality: the time that remains of the impression one has of things, the impression that everything passes very quickly."
Jef Geys is one of Belgium's most esteemed artists. His art cannot be separated from his biography; he began keeping an index of his own work when he was thirteen years old. Since he appeared on the art scene at the beginning of the 1960s, Geys has conceived his entire oeuvre as an evolving project that combines a conceptual attitude, educational activity and formal experimentation. His work, in diverse media, deals with themes related to social, political and economic fields, and is especially marked by its anti-elitism and critical intelligence. He has exhibited in many important institutions around the world, including the IAC Villeurbanne (2007); Orchard Gallery, New York (2007), Pori Art Museum, Pori, Finland (2005); Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven (2004); Documenta 11, Kassel (2002); Le Collège-Frac Champagne-Ardenne (1995); Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels (1992); and São Paulo Biennial (1991).
He recently participated in the "Deep Comedy" show at Marfa, Texas (2007), curated by Dan Graham with Sylvia Chivaratanond.
Nocturne 17 January 2008 6 - 9 pm
Galerie Erna Hecey
rue Des Fabriques 1c, Brussels
Free Admission