Jef Geys: Catalogue Raisonnable

Art critics commonly describe the work of Belgian artist Jef Geys (1934-2018) as “unruly, and impossible to categorize in conventional art-historical categories.” Despite Geys’ subversive and critical attitude towards the art world, this ambitious publication shows that his work is not only deeply engaged and socially critical but also funny and sensory.

The title, Catalogue Raisonnable, is from a publication project found in Geys’ archive, structured like the 844 numbers and titles found in his famous List of Works. Geys used this List as a way to weave together his practice, production and autobiography. His Catalogue Raisonnable is both a personal, mnemonic, cumulative listing and an alternative to the standard academic ‘catalogue raisonné’. Besides this List, Geys left many clues and explanations about his practice in editions of his Kempens Informatieblad, on his blog and in publications. WIELS brings all these written aspects together, along with the results of new research into the artist’s archives, a large number of new translations of Geys’s original texts, and hundreds of illustrations of key unpublished works and documents.

Through access to the artist’s archive, close cooperation with his Estate, and thorough art-historical research, this publication offers a rare opportunity to discover, understand and study the entire career of Jef Geys’ remarkable, multifaceted practice.