GEYS, Jef; FRILING, Charlotte (ed.)
Catalogue Raisonnable

Essential! Originating from a survey publication proposal found in Jef Geys’ archive, Catalogue Raisonnable is a meticulously assembled monograph that brings together extensive archival research, translations of original texts, previously unpublished works and documents, and more than 1000 illustrations. 

Art critics commonly describe the work of Belgian artist Jef Geys as “unruly and impossible to categorize in conventional art-historical categories.” Despite Geys’ subversive and critical attitude towards the art world, this ambitious publication shows that his work is not only deeply engaged and socially critical but also funny and sensory.

Since the early 1960s, Geys had compiled an archive of everything he considered part of his artistic practice in to form of his “List of Works,” serving as his oeuvre's index. With a total of 844 entries, Catalogue Raisonnable is the first total survey of Jef Geys’ work. Through access to the artist’s archive, close collaboration with Geys’ next of kin, and thorough art-historical research, this publication offers a rare opportunity for understanding and appreciating the fascinating practice of one of Belgium’s greatest artistic figures.

Jef Geys (1934-2018) was a prominent Belgian conceptual artist known for his multifaceted and often provocative work that intersected art with everyday life. Born in Leopoldsburg, Belgium, Geys was a teacher by profession, a role that deeply influenced his artistic practice. His work is characterized by its exploration of social, political, and cultural themes, often challenging the boundaries between art and daily experience…

With texts by Dirk Snauwaert and Charlotte Friling. Bilingual English/Dutch.

[publishers’ note]

Published by WIELS / MER. B&L, 2025
Design by Joris Kritis and Adriaan Van Leuven
Monographs / Conceptual Art / Ecology / Economy / Education / Institutional Critique