Jef Geys, Passeports de vaches – 1965 / 2014… par CNAP
Jef Geys was born in 1934 in Leopoldsburg, Belgium. An unavowed heir to the Fluxus movement, he made his debut at age 13. He is today considered to be among the most important Belgian artists of his generation. Françoise Bonnefous (the gallery Air de Paris) likes to call him a “conceptual raw artist” who “uses the world as his medium.” Through its autobiographical and social dimensions, Geys’ work constantly bridges culture and triviality.
Geys began working on his series Cow Passports, which includes these two pieces, back in 1965, when accompanying his father-in-law, a livestock trader. In 2014, Geys made a life-size photographic image of a cow named Angelique. This photograph, along with the cow’s passport, was acquired the same year by the Centre national des arts plastiques. Through this series, Jef Geys gives each of the cows he encounters an individual identity.
Jef Geys’ work is currently featured in a collective exhibition organized by the Centre national edition art at Baux-de-Provence, accompanied by a book publication.
Thanks to Pascal Beausse, head of the photographic collections, and to the teams of the Centre National des Arts Plastiques who have allowed this project to be carried out. Coordination: Annabelle Oliveira, Communications and Information at CNAP. Assisted Zelie Davin, Responsible for acquisitions photography, video, audiovisual and new media Cnap. Translation: L’Œil de la Photographie.
Each week you can find the presentation of a piece from the photographic collection of CNAP http://www.cnap.fr and L’Oeil de la Photographie. Available in French and in English
