Hans Theys

Hans Theys is a twentieth-century philosopher and art historian. He has written and designed dozens of books on the works of contemporary artists and published hundreds of essays, interviews and reviews in books, catalogues and magazines. All his publications are based on actual collaborations and conversations with artists.

This platform was developed by Evi Bert (M HKA / Centrum Kunstarchieven Vlaanderen) in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Research group Archivolt), M HKA, Antwerp and Koen Van der Auwera. We also thank Idris Sevenans (HOR) and Marc Ruyters (Hart Magazine).

Vaast Colson

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(c)image: M HKA

Helena Sculpture, 2006

Vaast Colson

Installation , 3 x (100 x 185 x 212 cm)

mixed media

In 2004 Vaast Colson made 12 portraits of Helena, the 15-year-old daughter of German artist Martin Kippenberger, one of his most important examples. He calls the series Helena: The Paintings Martin Couldn't Paint Anymore. At the time, Kippenberger had already been dead for seven years. Colson is referring here to Kippenberger's series Jaqueline: The Paintings Pablo Couldn't Paint Anymore, which Kippenberger produced in 1996 as a tribute to Pablo Picasso, whose wife was called Jaqueline. Colson's series is a tribute and at the same time an attempt to come a little closer to his example with a greater understanding of Kippenberger's working methods, technique and use of materials. Since 2006, the series of portraits is stored in Helena Sculpture, an installation that serves as a vault for an artistic treasure, or as a reliquary for the artistic pilgrim. Only once a year the safe can be opened: on 24 August, Helena's birthday.

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