Dossier - René Daniëls
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René Daniëls
1950, Eindhoven - Eindhoven

René Daniëls’ earliest works were created at the end of the 1970s, in reaction to conceptual and minimal art, which was predominantly abstract. Flying gramophone records, falling books and a camera – all carriers of information – filled his colourful, fluently painted canvases. Nevertheless, it quickly became apparent that Daniëls’ work could not be considered part of the ‘Neue Wilden’ movement, but was more in line with a French-Belgian tradition focusing on the relationship between language, image and meaning. Francis Picabia, René Magritte and especially Marcel Broodthaers were important role models for Daniëls. In his work, Daniëls sought legitimacy for painting – a medium that was regularly declared ‘extinct’ with the rise of photography and video in the artworld.
 
Daniëls described his own working method in 1982 as ‘writing poetry in images’. He takes a simple motif such as a window and deconstructs, mirrors and multiplies it, placing it in perspective and painting it in overlapping, transparent layers. For instance, lit windows in a dark facade turn into a ‘bow tie’ or a representation of a spatially ambiguous room with mostly empty paintings. Daniëls’ attempt to free the painted, figurative image from its unequivocalness converges with his search for a viable metaphor for painting itself.
 
With the acquisition in 1992 of several paintings and a large number of works on paper, the Bonnefantenmuseum was able to significantly expand the collection of works by René Daniëls built up between 1985 and 1990. The museum now owns ten paintings and an important collection of drawings and gouaches by this original and influential artist. Thanks to René Daniëls, iconographic representation in contemporary painting made an early and convincing return to the Netherlands. As Daniëls suffered a cerebral haemorrhage in 1987, his oeuvre must be considered complete.
Painting on the bullfight, 1986

Images
Collection Bonnefantenmuseum
Elba St. Helena, 1987
Painting on the bullfight, 1986
Llandstival, 1985
Painting on the flag, 1985
Een warme dag in de vuurtoren, 1985
Een warme dag in de vuurtoren, 1985
Het schoolbestuur is oneens met EG-bepalingen, 1984
A Fountain in Africa, 1984
Ontwerptekening voor kamerscherm, 1984
De stad, 1984
Triumph des Willens, 1984
Zonder titel, 1984
Het Romeins wastafeltje, 1983
Zonder titel, 1983
The most contemporary picture show, 1983
De swingende decoratie, 1983
Het alarm, 1983
Een grammofoonplaat kan soms op de meest onverwachte momenten..., 1983
Cabaret cabaret, 1982
Zonder titel, 1982
Zonder titel (2 I's strijdend om een punt), 1982
Zonder titel (2 I's strijdend om een punt), 1982
De tijdgeest van de westerse kunst op de documenta, 1982
2 I's strijdend om 1 punt, 1982
2 juni 1982 - De datum bij het woord gevoegd, 1982
Borsalino, 1981
Borsalino, 1981
Zonder titel, 1981
De gymnastiekzaal van het leven (Exorcise wheel), 1981
Zonder titel (Baarsstraat), 1981
Zonder titel, 1980
De sterren, 1980
Zonder titel (Avenue Plantage Moyen), 1980
Zonder titel, 1980
Zonder titel, 1979
Zonder titel, 1979
De golven, 1975
Zonder titel, 1972
Zonder titel, 1979