De Mens

Paul De Vree

1973

Print, 51 x 82 cm.
Materials: ink, paper

Collection: Collection M HKA, Antwerp / Collection Flemish Community (Inv. no. BK3965).

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.

Events View all

Urgent Conversations: Ant...

16 September 2017 - 12 November 2017.
Last year, M HKA was invited by EMST in Athens for the opening exhibition in the new museum building. Today, Urgent Conversations: Antwerp –

Urgent Conversations Athe...

31 October 2016 - 05 February 2017.
Urgent Conversations: Athens – Antwerp is the first temporary exhibition in the long overdue public unfolding of the Greek National Museum of

Ensembles View all

Poesia Visiva

After 1967, De Vree’s poetry became increasingly engaged and critical of society. In 1971, together with the Italian poet Sarenco, he founded

Poetical License

POETICAL LICENSE This notion emerged from a work by Sarenco when we were pairing him and Paul De Vree with Costis, during a reflection on

Actors View all

Paul De Vree