De Clercq Maurice

Maurice De Clercq was a Belgian artist, born in Ledeberg in 1918 and died in Oordegem in 1980. He was a painter, draftsman, graphic artist and sculptor. He was educated at the Academy in Ghent and at the School of Arts and Crafts in Brussels. He made his debut in an abstract design, in which he evoked a vegetal world in rich material painting, and then evolved from pop art to hyper-realism. From the press: 'In 1968 his relief paintings leaned even more towards sculpture. He integrated parts of cars into the painting and made assemblies that seem like armor for his modern knights. After 1970, his art evolved into hyper-realism, any anecdote, abstraction or sentiment was deliberately excluded in order to visualize those things that we miss in our absent-mindedness, such as a pump, a bicycle, a cart…,' (P. De Clercq, 1980 ) and 'M.D.C. has always been an artist who has stood on the barricades of the avant-garde. Restlessly searching for new possibilities, he also changed his style, immediately integrating the new art directions from abroad into our own art life. However, each time he managed to put his own personal stamp on it.' Maurice De Clercq was a plastic arts teacher in state secondary education (1952-1973) and from 1960 to 1963 employee for Belgium of the Parisian magazine Sens Plastique. He held individual exhibitions, including in the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels in 1963. His work can be found in the Museums in Antwerp and Ghent, among other places. He is mentioned in BAS II and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (piron)