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).

Walter Swennen

Back

(c)image: M HKA

Mesmeric Revelation, 1987-1988

Walter Swennen

Painting , 200 x 190 cm

oil, lacquer, canvas

The line between image and text is never far away in Walter Swennen’s work. Painting provides a way of analysing the relationships between symbol and allegory, the ‘readable’ and the ‘visible’ image, meaning and loss of significance.

But the thing that really interests Swennen is the effect his work has on us. He offers his viewers some tools, but no ready-made explanations. By confronting us with simple things from our daily lives, Swennen hopes to awaken our imagination.

Mesmeric Revelation can also refer to the title of a short story, written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1844. German physician and astrologer Franz Friedrich Anton Mesmer theorised animal magnetism or mesmerism. His theory suggests that a natural transference of energy exists between all animated and inanimate objects. The further development of Mesmer’s ideas led to the first observations of hypnotism in 1842.

Back