Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial: Photo-based Art in Belgium (1960s - early 1990s)

'Conceptual, Surrealist, Pictorial' is the first in-depth study of the use of photography by Belgian artists from the 1960s until the early 1990s. During these three decades, photography generally underwent a major evolution with regard to its status as a gallery-focused fine art practice. Liesbeth Decan explores the pioneering use of photography within Conceptual art (represented by Marcel Broodthaers, Jacques Charlier, and Jef Geys), the heyday of Photoconceptualism in Belgium (represented by Jacques Lennep, Jacques Lizène, Philippe Van Snick, and Danny Matthys), and the transition from a conceptual use of photography towards a more pictorial, tableau-like approach of the medium (represented by Jan Vercruysse, Ria Pacquée, and Dirk Braeckman).

Liesbeth Decan will present her book on Thursday 24 November at M HKA Antwerp. Everyone is free to attend the event from 19h onwards. Her talk will be introduced by Bart de Baere, Director of M HKA and prof. dr. Hilde Van Gelder, editor of the Lieven Gevaert Series. Afterwards there will be the possibility to visit the exhibition "Van Broodthaers tot Braeckman. Fotografie in de beeldende kunst in België," which was based on the book.