In 1955, young Belgian artists Serge Vandercam and Maurice Wyckaert, among others, published the pamphlet ‘Droit de Réponse’ as a critique on the theory of ‘cold’ geometric abstraction and as a reaction against the monopolisation of cultural palaces at the time. They would be among the founders of Taptoe a few months later. Taptoe was an artistic centre, exhibition space and literary café on the Place Oud Korenhuisplein in Brussels. Galerie Taptoe was founded in 1955 from the Cobra movements and the art magazine De (Kunst-) Meridiaan (founded in 1951 by Clara Haesaert and Maurice Wyckaert, among others). The name ‘Taptoe’ is taken from Walter Korun’s literary magazine. He published eight stencilled issues between 1953 and 1958 and presented authors such as Hugo Claus, Louis Paul Boon and Paul Snoek. The meaning of ‘Taptoe’ can be read as ‘having enough of the old’. It was a movement without a manifesto, without collective theoretical reflection, and it was not looking for a ‘style’ or a new ‘ism’. Among others, Pierre Alechinsky, Hugo Claus, Walasse Ting, Roger Raveel, Serge Vandercam, Maurice Wyckaert, Reinhoud D’Haese, Christian Dotremont, René Guiette and Asger Jorn exhibited their works. Taptoe’s lifespan was relatively short but its ‘creative’ ferocity was all-important for the artistic development of several young poets, painters and critics. It became a meeting point of contacts between Belgian and international artists. ‘Taptoe’ closed in 1969. With this exhibition, Callewaert Vanlangendonck wants to honour the importance of ‘Taptoe’ with a collection of works by several protagonists of the artist centre.

Artists: Pierre Alechinsky, Hugo Claus, Christian Dotremont, René Guiette, Asger Jorn, Roger Raveel, Serge Vandercam, Maurice Wyckaert