Godart Bakkers
Letter from Joseph Willaert to René Heyvaert, 22.12.1971

The first presentation of The Letters Project focuses on a letter from the Belgian artist Joseph Willaert (1936-2014). In 1974 Willaert decides to turn some letters into paintings of a gigantic size. He shows these so-called 'letter paintings' in the Ghent gallery Elsa Von Honolulu Loringhoven. The letter painting on display is addressed to one René, who turns out to be René Heyvaert. The exhibition shows the story behind these remarkable works and takes a closer look at the friendship between René Heyvaert and Joseph Willaert. It does this on the basis of archive material that has never been shown before and … various letters. A small publication, designed by Nel Carlier, will be presented in conjunction with the exhibition.

With special thanks to: Suzanne Caura and the Willaert family, Paul Vanbiervliet, Raoul Maria de Puydt, Siska Bulkens, Mieke Mels & Ilse Roosens (Mu.ZEE, Ostend), Rémie Vanderhaegen, Clo Bostoen, Arthur Haegeman, Het Letterenhuis (Antwerp), CLEARING Gallery (Brussels), Ghent Arts Library, Liene Aerts, Anton Pereira Rodrigues, Jordi Coppers

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.