The first total survey of Jef Geys’ work. Art critics commonly describe the work of Belgian artist Jef Geys (1934–2018) 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.

Designed by Joris Kritis & Adriaan Van Leuven.

With this publication, Joëlle Tuerlinckx guides us through the studio’s archives, and through the development of a thought process and culminates in the inventory of the M.M. collection (Musée de la Mémoire” or “Museum of Memory). Building on the great classic of the inventory catalogue and encompassing “all of J.T.’s work”, she presents “a museum in itself”.

While the book is originally connected to La Triangulaire de Cransac, a monumental work of art in the small town of Aveyron, it also puts into perspective the evolution of the museum in its relationship with the artist and the book. Joëlle Tuerlinckx reminds us that if the museum is compared to a book because of its internal organisation, then a book can be compared to a museum because of its systematics and its method of contemplating the object.

Designed by Joëlle Tuerlinckx and Adriaan Van Leuven.