Joseph Mouton on Eric Duyckaerts' Elementary Poetics
Philosopher Joseph Mouton examines the work of Belgian artist Eric Duyckaerts (b. 1953, Liège; currently residing in Nice and Paris) in an essay for artpress. Mouton contends that Duyckaerts’ video-lectures explore fundamental concepts while steering clear of metaphysical poetry, employing rhetoric that creates a distance from the audience. He notes Duyckaerts' fascination with reflection, particularly the Lacanian mirror stage and interactive mirroring. In RDFD (Rêver, danser, filmer, dessiner), Duyckaerts generates a mirroring effect by replicating gestures while observing his own image. Mouton differentiates Duyckaerts from formal artists, emphasizing his inclination to work beneath established artistic standards. He also reflects on Duyckaerts' connection to formal logic, suggesting a shift from the "professor line" to the "automaton line." Recent exhibitions include 1999 at Frac Bourgogne, 2000 at Crac, and 2001 at La Verrière and Galerie Albert Baronian (Sept. 20–Nov. 17).
Key facts
- Joseph Mouton wrote an essay on Eric Duyckaerts for artpress.
- Duyckaerts' video-lectures focus on elementary logical principles and disciplinary basics.
- Duyckaerts avoids metaphysical poetry in favor of rhetorical devices like excuses and recadrings.
- Duyckaerts explores mirroring: Lacanian mirror stage, mirror symmetry, enantiomorphy.
- In RDFD, Duyckaerts performs jacket-putting gestures while watching his image as if in a mirror.
- Mouton contrasts Duyckaerts with artists who maintain a formal relationship to art.
- Duyckaerts' video-lectures create a mirror disjunction between viewer and professor.
- Duyckaerts references early 20th-century logicians' purification of logical elements.
- Mouton suggests an automaton line may be overtaking the professor line in Duyckaerts' work.
- Duyckaerts narrowly missed a first prize in eloquence in Belgium.
- Duyckaerts uses Commedia dell'arte improvisation techniques in his video-lectures.
- Recent solo shows: 1999 Frac Bourgogne, Dijon; 2000 Crac, Sète and Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin (FIAC), Paris; 2001 La Verrière, Hermès, Brussels and Galerie Albert Baronian, Brussels.
Entities
Artists
- Eric Duyckaerts
- Joseph Mouton
- Buster Keaton
- Jacques Lacan
- Franz Kafka
Institutions
- artpress
- Frac Bourgogne
- Crac, Sète
- Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin
- FIAC
- La Verrière, Hermès
- Galerie Albert Baronian
Locations
- Liège
- Belgium
- Nice
- Paris
- Dijon
- France
- Sète
- Brussels
Sources
- artpress —