The exhibitions Urgent Conversations: Athens–Antwerp and Urgent Conversations: Antwerp – Athens are a collaboration between EMST and M HKA, a theoretical and visual dialogue, based on works from the collections of both museums, which includes more than 70 works structured in 22 topics.   

28.04.2017 - 07.01.2018        

M HKA, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen - Leuvenstraat 32, 2000 Antwerpen

EMST, National Museum of Contemporary Art - Kallirrois Avenue & Amvr. Frantzi Str., Athens 11743

Poetical License

(c)image: M HKA
De Mens, 1973
Print , 51 x 82 cm
ink, paper

In its poesia visiva De Vree continues to make use of the techniques of both the concrete as the visual poetry on the one hand, and by means of "style sheets" and icons on the other hand, which either typographic are set out graphically or photographically. In the poem De Mens (1973), the pure graphic design is predominant. De Vree was drawing the silhouette of the upper body of four men, and appointed successively 'uomo utopico', 'uomo normal', 'uomo economico' and 'uomo politico'. The heart of these four types is shrinking towards the "uomo politico" where there is no longer a heart. De Vree expresses his concerns about the lack of humanity that political business tucked away presents and points to a society where the raw and heartless instinct reigns.