Influential Belgian Artist Walter Swennen Dies at 79
Walter Swennen, a pivotal figure in contemporary Belgian art, has died at 79, as announced by his gallery Xavier Hufkens on Saturday. Swennen had been struggling with health issues for several years. His gallery remarked on his status as “one of Belgium’s most influential artists,” noted for consistently challenging the conventions of painting. reports 24brussels.
Born in Brussels in 1946, Swennen began studying psychology before ultimately dedicating himself to the arts in his mid-thirties. His artistic method was defined by spontaneity and intuition, leading to works that were often playful and enigmatic. “There is no meaning, there is just the secret, and the secret is to be found in the making of art,” he famously stated regarding his approach.
“Central to his practice was the notion that art should be liberated from imposed meanings, allowing chance, intuition, and curiosity to shape the creative process,” Xavier Hufkens explained. Swennen’s work drew upon various influences, including free jazz, comic books, philosophy, and street signage, exemplifying humor, linguistic exploration, and visual innovation.
Language also played a significant role in Swennen’s creations, particularly the poetry of the Beat Generation, which was influenced by his own upbringing. At the age of five, his parents transitioned to French in their household and enrolled him in a French-speaking school.
His contributions to the art world received recognition both nationally and internationally. Notable exhibitions in Belgium included those at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp (M HKA), Bozar, and Wiels, alongside presentations at the Gladstone Gallery in New York and solo exhibits in Milan and Lisbon. In 2021, his retrospective toured museums in Bonn, Winterthur, and The Hague.
In early 2020, Swennen was honored with the Ultima prize, the Flemish culture award for visual arts, during a time when the Flemish government faced criticism for proposed cuts to culture funding. In an act of protest, he donated his prize money to the far-left PVDA party. In a notable 2005 collaboration, Swennen sold artworks through Aldi supermarkets, stating, “I prefer to work with a grocer than with a bank.”
Walter Swennen’s death marks a significant loss to the art community; he leaves behind a legacy of innovation and inspiration that will resonate with future generations.
