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St-Georges

Thierry De Cordier Passe-montagne

Thierry De Cordier Passe-montagne
Selected works Installation views

Xavier Hufkens is honoured to present a new exhibition of works by Thierry De Cordier spanning the period from 1983 to today — none of which have previously been exhibited. The exhibition, nonetheless, is not intended to be a retrospective.

De Cordier might best be described as a non-academic thinker who makes things. His œuvre includes, but is not limited to, photographs, drawings, placards, paintings, sculptures, assemblages and bricolages. These ‘objects’ and ‘non-objects’, as he calls them, can be viewed as representations of his thinking. They visualize his ideas and, as such, are illustrative of them. Simply put, his œuvre is a philosophy expressed in images. De Cordier’s worldview leans heavily towards Albert Camus’ concept of Absurdism, which describes the futility of searching for significance in an incomprehensible universe, devoid of either God or meaning. In other words, people merely exist. Or, as De Cordier says: ‘Inutile, l’homme est là à être là inutilement…’ [Useless, man is there just being there uselessly…].

Publication

Thierry De Cordier
Passe-montagne

text by Prof. em. dr. Bart Verschaffel, published by Xavier Hufkens, 2024, 148 pages, hardcover, English

Thierry De Cordier (b. 1954, Ronse, Belgium) currently lives and works in Ostend, Belgium. A large room dedicated to his work was included in the exhibition The Encyclopaedic Palace at the Venice Biennale (2013). Solo exhibitions include Iconotextures at Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels (2016); Landschappen at BOZAR, Brussels (2012); and Drawings at the Centre Pompidou, Paris (2004-2005). He represented Belgium at the Venice Biennale in 1997.

Thierry De Cordier in conversation with Anne Pontégnie

Related exhibitions

Selected works

  • JE NE SUIS RIEN, 1983

  • APOSTASIE, 1985-1999

  • QUINCUNX (dedicated to Johnny V.), 1982-1995

  • TRAP., 1985-2002

  • PARADIGMA (Aire de repos), 1984-2023

  • A B S C H I E D, (Wall-poem), 1983-2023

  • BIRDY (lemony), 2011-2023

  • PASSE-MONTAGNE, 1985-2008

  • SOUVENIR AN DEN JUNGFRAU (plaque commémorative), 1983 - 1990

  • VAGUE SEULE, 1985-2017

  • ALPENNACHT (painted in memory of a stay in the high mountains, during the spring of 1983), 1991-2020

  • RIEN, (Sorry Robert, but I didn't know that I would end up with a white square, especially since I assumed a painterly approach…, 1981

  • Für K. (study for a square self-portrait), 1989-2013

  • NIGHTHEAD (study for a nocturnal square self-portrait), 1989-2013

  • ASSISE (Head protector), 1983-1985

  • WORDS FOR WIND, 1986

  • SPEECH PANCARTE 1 (I.C.C. - ANTWERP), 1986

  • SPEECH PANCARTE 2 (LYON), 1988

  • SPEECH PANCARTE 3 (MILANO), 1988

  • SPEECH PANCARTE 4 (ANDALUCIA), 2022

  • MESSAGE OF THANKS (study for a mural on the tiled wall of a fishshop in Ostend), 1983-2022

  • KLEINSCULPTUUR VOOR HET HOOGGEBERGTE, 1985-2022

  • PETIT MOI (Little me), 1992

  • VLIEGEND IK (Flying me), 2006

  • SCHUBERT, SCHUHBERG, SCHÖNBERG, SCHOENBERG…, 2008-2023

  • EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2023

  • EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2017

  • EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2023

  • EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2017

  • EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2011-2023

  • MANGE-DIEU (Philosophical thesis), 2023

  • CHANSON IVRE (Drunk song), 2023

  • DIEU EN NEIGE (Snowy God), 2023

  • Only Words (Ici où j’habite…), 2023

  • Only Words (Hors de mon jardin…), 2023

  • Only Words (Dieu à la poubelle!…), 2023

  • Only Words (Chaque matin d’hiver…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je me prépare à quitter ce monde…), 2023

  • Only Words (J'ai bientôt 40 ans…), 2023

  • Only Words (Devant une mer du Nord…), 2023

  • Only Words (La nuit tombe…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je contemple la mer du Nord…), 2023

  • Only Words (Tous les jours je tourne en rond…), 2023

  • Only Words (Dieu n’est vraisemblablement rien…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je ne suis pas ‘tres’ moderne…), 2023

  • Only Words (À quoi je pense?…), 2023

  • Only Words (Dieu, c’est de la bouillie…), 2023

  • Only Words (Penser à deux…), 2023

  • Only Words (À 8 je suis un huitième de moi-même…), 2023

  • Only Words (Dieu ça marche…), 2023

  • Only Words (Il n’y a rien du tout à comprendre…), 2023

  • Only Words (On vient de nulle part…), 2023

  • Only Words (Dieu n’existe pas!…), 2023

  • Only Words (À force de vivre…), 2023

  • Only Words (Parfois j’aimerais que mes cheveux…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je n’avais pas de plan…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je suis absurde…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je ne suis rien…), 2023

  • Only Words (Aujourd’hui jour de pluie…), 2023

  • Only Words (Du fond de mon jardin…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je n’écoute plus beaucoup…), 2023

  • Only Words (Aujourd’hui était une journée parfaite…), 2023

  • Only Words (Je ne vois personne…), 2023

  • Only Words (Une vieille cabane en bois…), 2023

  • Only Words (De ma cabane verte à l’ombre…), 2023

  • Only Words (Rosée du matin…), 2023

  • Only Words (Vers l’heure du midi…), 2023

Related artworks

    Thierry De Cordier

    JE NE SUIS RIEN, 1983

    perforated canvas
    40 x 25 x 2 cm, 15 3/4 x 9 7/8 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    APOSTASIE, 1985-1999

    charcoal on cardboard
    114 x 80 cm, 44 7/8 x 31 1/2 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    QUINCUNX (dedicated to Johnny V.), 1982-1995

    oil and buttons on canvas mounted on wood
    53.8 x 54 x 2.5 cm, 21 1/8 x 21 1/4 x 1 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    TRAP., 1985-2002

    broken mirror mounted on wood
    97 x 125.5 x 6 cm, 38 1/4 x 49 3/8 x 2 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    PARADIGMA (Aire de repos), 1984-2023

    5 granite cobblestones, 5 aluminium tubes
    dimensions variable

    Thierry De Cordier

    A B S C H I E D, (Wall-poem), 1983-2023

    oil, oilstick, pencil and gesso on unstretched canvas 336 x 416 cm, 132 x 163 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    BIRDY (lemony), 2011-2023

    wood, rusty nails, gesso, phosphorescent paint, pencil, mat varnish
    247 x 180 x 40 cm, 97 1/4 x 70 7/8 x 15 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    PASSE-MONTAGNE, 1985-2008

    inkjet print on Hahnemühle paper, tempera, white Chinese ink 97 x 74 cm, 38 1/4 x 29 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    SOUVENIR AN DEN JUNGFRAU (plaque commémorative), 1983 - 1990

    oil, enamel, varnish and pencil on metal plate with 4 perforations 100 x 100 x 0.5 cm, 39 3/8 x 39 3/8 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    VAGUE SEULE, 1985-2017

    oil and tempera on wood 26 x 42 x 1.5 cm, 10 1/4 x 16 1/2 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    ALPENNACHT (painted in memory of a stay in the high mountains, during the spring of 1983), 1991-2020

    oil and gesso on cotton duck mounted on wood 122 x 175 x 3.5 cm, 48 x 68 7/8 x 1 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    RIEN, (Sorry Robert, but I didn't know that I would end up with a white square, especially since I assumed a painterly approach diametrically opposed to yours.), 1981

    blank canvas 54 x 54 cm, 21 1/4 x 21 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Für K. (study for a square self-portrait), 1989-2013

    primer, oil and pencil on cardboard mounted on wood 80.8 x 72 x 3.5 cm, 31 3/4 x 28 3/8 x 1 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    NIGHTHEAD (study for a nocturnal square self-portrait), 1989-2013

    primer, oil, charcoal, calligraphy ink, photo collage on overpainted canvas 80.2 x 70.6 x 2.1 cm, 31 5/8 x 27 3/4 x 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    ASSISE (Head protector), 1983-1985

    white paint and chalk on chair seat 33 x 41.5 x 4.5 cm, 13 x 16 3/8 x 1 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    WORDS FOR WIND, 1986

    antique knitting needle with ornamental head, audiotape, iron, screws, wooden plank 37.5 x 30.7 x 30.7 cm, 14 3/4 x 12 1/8 x 12 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    SPEECH PANCARTE 1 (I.C.C. - ANTWERP), 1986

    oil on primed cardboard 71.8 x 92 cm, 28 1/4 x 36 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    SPEECH PANCARTE 2 (LYON), 1988

    oil on primed cardboard 115 x 142.5 cm, 45 1/4 x 56 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    SPEECH PANCARTE 3 (MILANO), 1988

    oil, ink and pencil on primed cardboard mounted on wood construction, iron wire 93 x 115 cm, 36 5/8 x 45 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    SPEECH PANCARTE 4 (ANDALUCIA), 2022

    oil on primed cardboard reinforced with wood 108 x 137 cm, 42 1/2 x 54 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    MESSAGE OF THANKS (study for a mural on the tiled wall of a fishshop in Ostend), 1983-2022

    primer, oil, ink and pencil on grooved cardboard mounted on wood 47 x 46 cm, 18 1/2 x 18 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    KLEINSCULPTUUR VOOR HET HOOGGEBERGTE, 1985-2022

    mountain shoe, cement, wood, mirror, paint 54 x 132.5 x 29 cm, 21 1/4 x 52 1/8 x 11 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    PETIT MOI (Little me), 1992

    iron, cement, plaster, wax, human hair, textile, astrakhan, nails, yarn 22 x 22 x 20 cm, 8 5/8 x 8 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    VLIEGEND IK (Flying me), 2006

    iron, cement, plaster, wax, yarn, wood, human hair 25 x 49 x 25 cm, 9 7/8 x 19 1/4 x 9 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    SCHUBERT, SCHUHBERG, SCHÖNBERG, SCHOENBERG…, 2008-2023

    wood, cement, oil 24 x 32 x 15 cm, 9 1/2 x 12 5/8 x 5 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2023

    oil on unstretched canvas 44 x 217.5 cm, 17 3/8 x 85 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2017

    oil on unstretched canvas 45 x 330 cm, 17 3/4 x 129 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2023

    oil on unstretched canvas 45 x 328 cm, 17 3/4 x 129 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2017

    oil on unstretched canvas 45 x 333 cm, 17 3/4 x 131 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2011-2023

    oil on unstretched canvas 46 x 231.5 cm, 18 1/8 x 91 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    MANGE-DIEU (Philosophical thesis), 2023

    oil on wood reinforced with iron bands, rounded corners 130.5 x 136 x 2.1 cm, 51 3/8 x 53 1/2 x 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    CHANSON IVRE (Drunk song), 2023

    oil on wood 80 x 80 x 1.8 cm, 31 1/2 x 31 1/2 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    DIEU EN NEIGE (Snowy God), 2023

    oil on canvas mounted on wood 40.5 x 39.5 cm, 16 x 15 1/2 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Ici où j’habite…), 2023

    oil on wood 12.7 x 18 x 1.5 cm, 5 x 7 1/8 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Hors de mon jardin…), 2023

    oil on wood 12.6 x 18 x 1.5 cm, 5 x 7 1/8 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Dieu à la poubelle!…), 2023

    oil on wood 12 x 21 x 0.5 cm, 4 3/4 x 8 1/4 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Chaque matin d’hiver…), 2023

    oil on wood 13.6 x 25.3 x 0.7 cm, 5 3/8 x 10 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je me prépare à quitter ce monde…), 2023

    oil on wood 12.6 x 20.2 x 0.4 cm, 5 x 8 x 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (J'ai bientôt 40 ans…), 2023

    oil on wood 13.4 x 24.9 x 0.4 cm, 5 1/4 x 9 3/4 x 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Devant une mer du Nord…), 2023

    oil on wood 13.5 x 22.6 x 0.5 cm, 5 1/4 x 8 7/8 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (La nuit tombe…), 2023

    oil on wood 13.7 x 22.8 x 1.6 cm, 5 3/8 x 9 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je contemple la mer du Nord…), 2023

    oil on wood 14.4 x 22.8 x 0.5 cm, 5 5/8 x 9 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Tous les jours je tourne en rond…), 2023

    oil on wood 14.6 x 22.3 x 0.9 cm, 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 x 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Dieu n’est vraisemblablement rien…), 2023

    oil on canvas mounted on wood panel 14.7 x 22.6 x 0.4 cm, 5 3/4 x 8 7/8 x 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je ne suis pas ‘tres’ moderne…), 2023

    oil on wood 14.4 x 22.4 x 0.9 cm, 5 5/8 x 8 7/8 x 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (À quoi je pense?…), 2023

    oil on wood 14.4 x 24 x 0.3 cm, 5 5/8 x 9 1/2 x 1/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Dieu, c’est de la bouillie…), 2023

    oil on wood 14 x 21.5 x 0.5 cm, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Penser à deux…), 2023

    oil on wood 17 x 28 x 1.1 cm, 6 3/4 x 11 x 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (À 8 je suis un huitième de moi-même…), 2023

    oil on wood 18 x 33.5 x 1.5 cm, 7 1/8 x 13 1/4 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Dieu ça marche…), 2023

    oil on wood 18.8 x 30.3 x 1.6 cm, 7 3/8 x 11 7/8 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Il n’y a rien du tout à comprendre…), 2023

    oil on wood 20 x 35 x 0.9 cm, 7 7/8 x 13 3/4 x 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (On vient de nulle part…), 2023

    oil on wood 21.5 x 77.6 x 2.2 cm, 8 1/2 x 30 1/2 x 7/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Dieu n’existe pas!…), 2023

    oil on wood 22 x 34 x 0.8 cm, 8 5/8 x 13 3/8 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (À force de vivre…), 2023

    oil on wood 22 x 32.3 x 1.6 cm, 8 5/8 x 12 3/4 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Parfois j’aimerais que mes cheveux…), 2023

    oil on wood 23 x 35.6 x 1.5 cm, 9 x 14 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je n’avais pas de plan…), 2023

    oil on wood 21.5 x 31.6 x 1.4 cm, 8 1/2 x 12 1/2 x 1/2 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je suis absurde…), 2023

    oil on wood 18.6 x 29.7 x 0.9 cm, 7 3/8 x 11 3/4 x 3/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je ne suis rien…), 2023

    oil on wood 20.7 x 30 x 0.5 cm, 8 1/8 x 11 3/4 x 1/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Aujourd’hui jour de pluie…), 2023

    oil on wood 24.9 x 40.5 x 2 cm, 9 3/4 x 16 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Du fond de mon jardin…), 2023

    oil on wood 27.3 x 45 x 1.8 cm, 10 3/4 x 17 3/4 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je n’écoute plus beaucoup…), 2023

    oil on wood 29.5 x 43 x 1.8 cm, 11 5/8 x 16 7/8 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Aujourd’hui était une journée parfaite…), 2023

    oil on wood 29.4 x 43.1 x 1.9 cm, 11 5/8 x 17 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Je ne vois personne…), 2023

    oil on wood 29.9 x 42.9 x 1.9 cm, 11 3/4 x 16 7/8 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Une vieille cabane en bois…), 2023

    oil on canvas 34.5 x 42.3 x 1.5 cm, 13 5/8 x 16 5/8 x 5/8 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (De ma cabane verte à l’ombre…), 2023

    oil on canvas mounted on wood panel 35.5 x 50.2 x 1.2 cm, 14 x 19 3/4 x 1/2 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Rosée du matin…), 2023

    oil on wood 34.9 x 49.8 x 1.9 cm, 13 3/4 x 19 5/8 x 3/4 in.

    Thierry De Cordier

    Only Words (Vers l’heure du midi…), 2023

    oil on canvas 25.2 x 43.3 x 2.8 cm, 9 7/8 x 17 x 1 1/8 in.

Installation views