René Daniëls: Fragments from an Unfinished Novel

September at WIELS will be marked by the pictorial work and the poetic imagination of René Daniëls.

Come to discover over 75 paintings – several of which have never been exhibited and have been specially restored for the occasion – in addition to hundred drawings by the artist who has made his mark on the history of painting.

René Daniëls occupies a prominent place in the history of contemporary art from the latter half of the 20th century, despite the fact that his career was abruptly interrupted in 1987 after he suffered a stroke.

Emerging in the late 1970s, when figurative and expressive painting once again became popular, Daniëls soon developed an original, personal language. Although he enjoyed early recognition, Daniëls had no qualms about experimenting with different pictorial styles.

Nevertheless, certain motifs recur under constantly changing forms, following an associative, dream-like logic. Not unlike a composer, Daniëls devises variations on a theme. From 1984 onwards, one motif was to play a dominant role: that of an exhibition room seen in perspective. This form, resembling a bow tie, is reproduced in compositions in which he plays with mirroring effects, overlapping layers, or changes of direction.

Inspired by the title of one of the rare texts written by Daniëls, the exhibition Fragments from an Unfinished Novel explores the phenomenon of déjà vu and the relation between perception and memory, which lie at the heart of his practice.

Including historic paintings and several works never previously exhibited, the exhibition recounts the development of Daniëls’ visual language by exploring the effects of repetition and variation inherent in his work. A wide selection of drawings completes the presentation, offering a closer understanding of the evolution of his vocabulary.

René Daniëls:
Fragments from an Unfinished Novel
07.09.2018 – 06.01.2019

WIELS
Kunst · Brussel (stad)
Contemporary Art Centre
Avenue Van Volxemlaan 354
1190 Brussels

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