Preface
Lies Daenen
The oeuvre of Philippe Van Snick is complex as well as simple, dense as well as transparent, concrete as well as abstract. This artistic work cannot be subsumed in a single category, and at the same time it is lucid and disciplined throughout. By ascetically holding on to a strict ‘alphabet’ of ten colors and ten numbers (0-9), Van Snick has developed a mode of creativity that continues to renew itself all the time, despite his self-imposed restrictions, if not rather because of them. At first sight, his artistic language seems formal and distanced, but on closer inspection it gives way to a poetry that links up everyday experience with universal concerns. His conceptual austerity marks out an unpredictable and adventurous trajectory in the diversity of media in which his artistic works have taken shape. Perhaps it is precisely this singular determination, characterized by complexity in simplicity, which accounts for the fact that it took some time for this book to be in our hands. For many of us who know Van Snick’s work well, the need for a comprehensive study of it has long been obvious, while its absence was felt to be a lack. Fortunately, the research project of the Association KULeuven paved the way for such project and took charge of it, together with the artist. The exhibition at M provides the concrete occasion and perfect context for realizing this publication now and presenting to us a wonderful survey of his oeuvre, which includes, among other things, a hitherto never exhibited series of works from the Cera collection. The name of Philippe Van Snick has long been a familiar one within artistic circles. We hope that this book will now offer a wider audience the opportunity to become acquainted with his rich, intriguing oeuvre.