
St-Georges
Thierry De Cordier Passe-montagne
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.

JE NE SUIS RIEN, 1983
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…].
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.
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
ASSISE (Head protector), 1983-1985
Für K. (study for a square self-portrait), 1989-2013
NIGHTHEAD (study for a nocturnal square self-portrait), 1989-2013
MESSAGE OF THANKS (study for a mural on the tiled wall of a fishshop in Ostend), 1983-2022
SPEECH PANCARTE 1 (I.C.C. - ANTWERP), 1986
SPEECH PANCARTE 2 (LYON), 1988
SPEECH PANCARTE 3 (MILANO), 1988
SPEECH PANCARTE 4 (ANDALUCIA), 2022
WORDS FOR WIND, 1986
KLEINSCULPTUUR VOOR HET HOOGGEBERGTE, 1985-2022
VLIEGEND IK (Flying me), 2006
PETIT MOI (Little me), 1992
SCHUBERT, SCHUHBERG, SCHÖNBERG, SCHOENBERG…, 2008-2023
EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2011-2023
EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2017
EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2017
EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2023
EGO STREAMER (Signature), 2023
CHANSON IVRE (Drunk song), 2023
Only Words (Ici où j’habite…), 2023
DIEU EN NEIGE (Snowy God), 2023
MANGE-DIEU (Philosophical thesis), 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 variableThierry 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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), 2011-2023
oil on unstretched canvas 46 x 231.5 cm, 18 1/8 x 91 1/8 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), 2017
oil on unstretched canvas 45 x 333 cm, 17 3/4 x 131 1/8 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), 2023
oil on unstretched canvas 44 x 217.5 cm, 17 3/8 x 85 5/8 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
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
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
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
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.