Martine Marthe O. Brackeleire
Letter from René Magritte to the Vereniging der Gentse Kunstsalons vzw, 14.09.1965

In 1965 René Magritte was invited to attend the 51e Salon National des Beaux-Arts in Ghent. He refused to participate however, and didn’t send in any of his paintings. As a well-educated artist, he addresses a polite refusal to the organizing committee. In a letter of the 14^th of September of that year Magritte explains why he cannot accept the invitation. That letter is now focused on in the Letters project.

What is it all about? Why doesn’t Magritte seize the chance to expose his work in the Ghent Salon des Beaux-Arts? Why does he prefer to stay absent in an exposition of Belgian contemporary art? Doesn’t he waste an opportunity by doing so? Or is he, by refusing to participate at the Salon National des Beaux-Arts, making a statement as a contemporary artist? Just come and see to find out.

Met dank aan: Catherine Verleysen, Veerle Verhasselt en Sofie Corneillie (Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Gent), Femke Van der Fraenen en Sandra Vervynck (Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent) Koen Brams, Simon Delobel en Wouter De Vleeschouwer.

The Letters Project

In 2022-2023, KIOSK together with the research group Ghent, playing field of the visual arts (1957-1987), will focus on letters from or to people from Ghent, or concerning the Ghent art scene. The letters are selected for their content, but also for their form.

For a whole year, the group will present a different letter every week in KIOSK, and will highlight its context or the questions it raises. During these presentations, the letter (or a facsimile) will be shown, possibly with other artefacts that are mentioned or that can clarify its meaning.

Ghent, playing field of the visual arts (1957-1987) consists of Naninga Lens, Sofie Frederix, Wouter De Vleeschouwer, Koen Brams and Godart Bakkers. For The Letters Project the group is reinforced by Simon Delobel and some guests.