With this exhibition Honoré d'O* shows how important the immateriality of art is today, and also in corona times.
On the occasion of the ‘Year of Van Eyck’, the artist took the ‘Annunciation’ on the back panel of the Ghent Altarpiece as a starting point. More particularly he focused on the towel, a symbol for care, hygiene, preparation and purification. The concept of ‘support’, one of the common threads in the oeuvre of the artist, integrates itself flawlessly within the architecture of the church, not only by making the spiritualisation of matter visible, but also with sticks and little support figures that literally provide physical support. “One work incessantly generates links with another and opens up its meanings, in the unchartered ‘mythology of the present proximity’”, as Honoré d‘O expresses it himself.
In 2005 Honoré d’O represented Belgium at the Venice Biennial and in 2007 he was the laureate of the Culture Award of the Flemish Community. He has frequently exhibited in Belgium and abroad, and took part in the international Biennials of Johannesburg, Taipei, São Paulo, Sydney, Moscow and the Triennial of Kathmandu. His works have taken up a place in several important museum collections and as permanent sculptures in public space.
Practical information:
- On Sunday 31th May 2020 around 7 pm, Philippe Van Cauteren, artistic director of S.M.A.K., will give an opening speech without audience on the pulpit of the church. This will be filmed by the artist and made available online.
- The exhibition opened on 19th May 2020, digitally via the social media of Honoré d’O and vzw Jacobus. Now the exposition is open for visits on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm till 6pm.
- Entrance to the exhibition is for free. There is no online ticketing. For more information: info@jacobusgent.be
- On the occasion of this exhibition, a book in the form of a missal will be published by MER. B&L in a design by Luc Derycke with Pauline Scharmann. Authors of a 'prayer' are among others: Cathérine Verleysen, Luc Derycke, Honoré d'O, Philippe Van Cauteren,...
- ‘Honoré d’O – The Towel’ is an initiative of vzw Jacobus and was made possible thanks to the support of the City of Ghent, the Liedts-Meesen Foundation, HOGENT, VUB, S.M.A.K. and many others.
- Website
* Honoré d'O represented Belgium at the Venice Biennale in 2005 and was laureate of the Culture Prize of the Flemish Community in 2007. He has frequently exhibited at home and abroad and participated in the international Biennales of Johannesburg, Taipei, São Paulo, Sydney, Moscow and the Kathmandu Triennial. His works have acquired a place in several important museum collections and as permanent sculptures in the public space.
