In its purest form, mathematics shares its sublime uselessness with art, yet secretly hoping for their justification in reality. Dirk Verhaegen declares that he creates “systematic art,” an extremely rational stance within the long-standing tradition of geometry and construction. Logical mathematical rules allow the work, or a series of works, to manifest themselves almost effortlessly. In line with preconceived mathematical principles, a work or a series of works is generated almost automatically. In the 1970s, these were mainly linear works and systematically irregular polygons, sometimes with the wall as the medium. Later, they became “transactions,” dynamic lines jumping back and forth over merged or overlapping images; an organized chaos that reminds us of recorded eye movements or scores for electronic music.
www.ftn-books.com has a Verhaegen screen print available.
