Jef Verheyen - Works from the 1960s

Ensemble

Around 1960, the artist further elaborates on his Zwarte Ruimte or ‘Black Space’. He conceives his series De 4 Elementen (‘The Four Elements’): earth, air, fire and light. Gold, silver and bronze pigment as well as brass powder are further explored to suggest the right atmosphere. Shortly after, around 1962, Verheyen introduces his Arcs works where multicoloured light beams pass through the canvas such as Zonneboog (‘Sunbow’), Regenboog (‘Rainbow’) or Maanboog (‘Moonbow’).  The artist also leaves the square canvas and paints on round fibreboards (tondo). Verheyen’s travels to Mexico and Brasil will be translated in his paintings around 1967-1968. At the end of the 1960s, Verheyen is preparing intensely for his luminous aurora works such as Lichtstroom, Lichtkolk, Lichtwenteling and Lichtvogel on the occasion of his Belgian representation at the Venice Biennial in 1970.

About M HKA / Mission Statement

The M HKA is a museum for contemporary art, film and visual culture in its widest sense. It is an open place of encounter for art, artists and the public. The M HKA aspires to play a leading role in Flanders and to extend its international profile by building upon Antwerp's avant-garde tradition. The M HKA bridges the relationship between artistic questions and wider societal issues, between the international and the regional, artists and public, tradition and innovation, reflection and presentation. Central here is the museum's collection with its ongoing acquisitions, as well as related areas of management and research.

About M HKA Ensembles

The M HKA Ensembles represent our first steps towards initiating the public to today's art-related digital landscape. With the help of these new media, our aim is to offer our artworks a better and fuller array of support for their presentation and public understanding.