René Daniëls @ MNCARS – Madrid

Never to late to remind you of one of the best exhibitions happening right now in Madrid: An exhibition is always part of a greater whole… an open view onto the versatile nature and the complexity of the René Daniëls’ works.

René Daniëls (Eindhoven, Netherlands, 1950) began his personal exploration of the possibilities of painting as a medium in 1976, on completing his art studies. He linked the visual arts and their rich history with literature and everyday life. Ambiguity and double meaning play a crucial role in his work, showing evidence of a relationship with predecessors like Francis Picabia, René Magritte, Marcel Duchamp and Marcel Broodthaers….

Through a broad selection of paintings, gouaches and drawings, together with a wide ranging compilation of other materials from the René Daniëls Foundation, this exhibition dives into the very diverse nature complexity of the artist’s work within the framework of the 1970s and 1980s underground culture which was so decisive for Daniëls, including punk, new wave and ‘no wave’, and also within the neo-liberal and commercial context of the (art) world at that time.

Despite becoming a very important artist overnight in the 80s, after his stroke in 1987 he stopped producing work for nearly 20 years. In 2007 he regained his creative appetite this time in small format. What has changed is the form, partly as a result of the artist’s physical limitations, since he now has to paint with his left hand. He has had to find a new language with which to express his ideas, one which is perhaps basic but never superficial.

For the exhibition Daniëls has created a mural which makes us think he’s regained the strength to produce and show new works… the time has come for him to return to his artistic performance, hopefully this exhibition is the start of many years of prolific creation.

The exhibition is organized by the Museo Reina Sofía and Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven and is taking place @ the beautiful Velázquez Palace inside the Retiro gardens (central Madrid) not far away from the MNCARS itself, 3€ or free if you go during the evenings or Sunday (more info on prices this way).