Raoul De Keyser, Across (2000/2009). © Raoul De Keyser / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SABAM, Belgium. Courtesy Family Raoul De Keyser and David Zwirner.
The first exhibition in Asia of work by the brilliant Raoul De Keyser recently opened at David Zwirner Hong Kong.
Viewing a work of De Keyser's, one can't help notice his lightness of touch and almost deliberately evasive manner.
Although gleaned from a deeply personal perspective of reality, his works can be understood as an improvisation, one of repeated editing, which can be seen in the pencil marks underneath the pink daubs of paint in Across (2000/2009) pictured here.
Despite this avoidance of any formal discourse, De Keyser managed to carve out a distinct visual language that marked him out as a truly unique voice and one that had the utmost influence on a host of younger painters including fellow Belgian superstar, Luc Tuymans and Turner Prize winner Tomma Abts. —[O]
