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

Thierry De Cordier

°1954
Born in Oudenaarde, BE
Lives in Ostend, BE

Thierry De Cordier (b. 1954) creates depth in his paintings through the use of dark tones. Yet also as a sculptor, draughtsman, printmaker, writer and maker of installations his tone remains bleak. To counteract the hopelessness of existence, he creates references in his work to literary contexts – through ironic titles and handwritten captions – telling of a nostalgic desire for peace, simplicity and beauty. In his texts he reflects on his distrust in today's society and the inability to escape progress. Philosophically speaking, the essence of his oeuvre is deeply rooted in the earth, although it is in spirit somehow detached from it, lost as it were, in a romantic, literary cloud.

Text: Hans Willemse
Translations: Michael Meert