Edited by Marie Angeletti with Gianmaria Andreetta and Camilla Wills.

Paradis is a continuation of the eponymous exhibition conceived by artist Marie Angeletti in Marseilles in 2021. The exhibition brought together 56 artists of different origins and generations. More than just a transcription of this event, this catalogue brings together some one hundred contributions, combining critical texts, poetry, artists’ writings and new translations, alongside an equally large number of visual contributions and ad hoc works, most of them previously unpublished.

Produced on the occasion of Jacqueline Mesmaeker’s exhibition at Vleeshal, Middelburg, 14–26 January, 1982.

The work of Jacqueline Mesmaeker is intangible, discreet and captivating. Starting from analytical intentions and experimental protocols linked to perception and representation, her practice remains anchored in a literary and poetic universe, including references to Lewis Carroll, Mallarmé, Melville or Paul Willems. Minimal, sometimes even unnoted, her rare and precise work is nonetheless present. It willingly takes over space, playing with the actual and symbolic architecture, revealing the structures and lines of force, but also the errors, by thwarting their perspectives or correcting them with delicate touches.

A survey of the Belgian artist’s work over more than 35 years, this book constitutes the first comprehensive monograph dedicated to the work of the Belgian artist Jacqueline Mesmaeker. The catalog first presents forty one of her works by means of illustrations and notices. The book also includes a dozen essays addressing her singular artistic approach, as well as a biography and a bibliography.

Edited by Olivier Mignon. Contributions by Muriel Andrin, Michel Assenmaker, Koen Brams, Laurent Busine, Corinne Giandou, Luk Lambrecht, Anaël Lejeune, Lynda Morris, Raphaël Pirenne, Benoit Platéus, Dirk Pültau, Philippe-André Rihoux, Georges Roque, Thierry Smolderen, Pierre Sterckx.

The work of Jacqueline Mesmaeker is intangible, discreet and captivating. Starting from analytical intentions and experimental protocols linked to perception and representation, her practice remains anchored in a literary and poetic universe, including references to Lewis Carroll, Mallarmé, Melville or Paul Willems. Minimal, sometimes even unnoted, her rare and precise work is nonetheless present. It willingly takes over space, playing with the actual and symbolic architecture, revealing the structures and lines of force, but also the errors, by thwarting their perspectives or correcting them with delicate touches.

Secret Outlines: Versailles (1996–2020) is the facsimile reproduction of one of the eight variations of the Secret Outlines (1996) series in which Jacqueline Mesmaeker over her way into books through graphic interventions, collages, and cuttings. For this edition, published by Keijiban (Kanazawa) and printed by Cultura (Wetteren) on Gardapat 150g paper, the artist has added five original drawings made with Caran D’Ache sapphire blue pencil to each of the thirty signed and numbered copies.

More images of the associated exhibition can be seen here.

Produced on the occasion of the exhibition Until it Fitted! at Établissement d’en face, Brussels, 24 March–28 April, 2007.

Jacqueline Mesmaeker (born 1929 in Brussels) started her career as a fashion designer from 1962 till 1972, before she turned to visual and artistic issues. Drawing, an art form she taught in several art schools (ERG, La Cambre…), runs throughout her rich work that includes installation, video, photography, writing and design. She won the Norwich East Award, in 1996.