René Heyvaert (Ghent, 1929 – Scheldewindeke, Belgium, 1984) produced a body of work that is austere and simple, yet extraordinarily complex, connected both to the historical avant-gardes and to his own personal circumstances.
His work reflects the vision of an experimental artist who sought, in the aftermath of the Second World War, a humane way forward in which art and life might be reconciled, fostering a certain visionary idea of a modest utopia. He died prematurely at the age of 55, yet exerted a profound influence on successive generations of artists in his native Belgium. At the same time, he is an artist currently undergoing a renewed process of discovery and reassessment.
This publication proposes a comprehensive reconsideration and re-reading of his work, from his beginnings in the field of architecture to the development of a singular body of work. Emerging from a position deeply marked by the isolation resulting from his health problems, it reveals a profound awareness of the concerns and artistic inquiries of his time, both within his home country and beyond its borders.