Dan Van Severen: pure and simple

(No Title © Dan Van Severen)

Through his work artist Dan Van Severen (1927-2009) went looking for purity and simplicity. His geometric, abstract paintings in which vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines play the leading part, look hermetic and inaccessible. Mathematical shapes such as circles, squares, ellipses, and rhombi seem to be brain exercises for intricate mathematical problems, but Van Severen's work isn't merely abstract. His lines conceal an enormous expressive power, and his paintings undeniably contain a mystical dimension. Van Severen used to look at the cross as the basic shape in his body of work, the two intersecting lines expressing a contrast - whether it be between a man and a woman, day and night, love and hate, above and below, or left and right. On the intersection of the two lines, those two extremes come together. Dan Van Severen painted and drew in austere colour shades: white, black, and all the greys in between. Gallery 105 BESME is now presenting a selection of Van Severen's works on paper, together with Aldo Guillaume Turin's new film Un espace invisible. Tonight, Wiels is hosting a talk about the artist between Van Severen's grandson David and curator Jan Hoet.

Dan Van Severen > 15/5, by appointment (19 > 21/4, 14 > 17.00), 105 Besme, avenue Besmelaan 105, Vorst/Forest, www.105besme.be
Jan Hoet in conversation with David Van Severen 15/4, 18.30, WIELS, avenue Van Volxemlaan 354, Vorst/Forest, www.wiels.org