BEYOND COLOURS
One of Werner Cuvelier's gripping childhood memories is set in De Haan aan Zee. It is shortly after the war and on the beach only a small fraction of explosives has been removed. There are hardly any toys, and bathers must settle with a tiny fenced-off area. In this restrictive environment, with the little at hand, small Werner still enjoys himself wonderfully.

It is perhaps premature to see this as a prelude of an artist's stance that has been put into practice by Werner Cuvelier and his contemporary Bernard Villers (both were born in 1939). Yet this setting contains the essence of their artistry: they find or create frameworks or rules that liberate, allow play and produce an interesting visual result. ‘Je tente d'imaginer un système non systématique, un cadre souple en vue d'un propos plastique.’ (Bernard Villers) ‘I always depart from an idea. An idea of which I cannot yet assess the results, but which is nevertheless crucial in that it imposes limits on me.... Working with demarcated data (sometimes originating outside of the arts, such as statistical data), which defines delimitations, I consider that a form of freedom.’ (Werner Cuvelier)

In each of their artistic practice we can naturally find different accents: Werner Cuvelier structures and plays rather reflexively, Bernard Villers more intuitively and physically; Werner Cuvelier emphasises colour relationships and nuances, Bernard Villers focuses on pure colour and on the physical effect of light and material. Yet their paths cross regularly, arriving at similar plastic proposals yet from differing propositions.

The exhibition Beyond Colors offers a fascinating outlook upon this meandering dialogue.

A duo exhibition by Werner Cuvelier & Bernard Villers.
Curated by Dirk D'herde
In collaboration with: Nadja Vilenne Gallery (Werner Cuvelier) and Irene Laub Gallery (Bernard Villers)

Artists: Werner Cuvelier & Bernard Villers