Exposición Universal

Joost Swarte

01/06/89. (Sala 110)

The exhibition will be presented in two “chapters” because the exhibition gathers all the work of this Dutch illustrator.

First part: From June 1 to 19. Second part: From June 20 to July 1, 1989.

Sala Vinçon presents a retrospective of the work of Joost Swarte, comic author and graphic artist. In this exhibition you can see originals, sketches and prints of comics, book illustrations, book and magazine covers, posters, engravings, stamps, postcards, ex-books, covers and record labels.

Swarte (1947) publishes in 1970 his first comic in the magazine “Tante Leny Presenteert”. He creates his own fanzine “Modern Papier” and works regularly for magazines such as “Humo” (Belgium), “Vrij Nederland” (Netherlands), “Raw” and “El Víbora”.

His book “Modern Art” (1980) was an important success, both for his drawings and for his particular graphic style. The German edition was selected as one of the best books published in Germany.

As for the style, Swarte presents traditional aesthetic elements: a clear line, inspired by the drawings of Hergé (Tintin) but also by De Stijl (from the beginning of the century).

In terms of style, Swarte presents traditional aesthetic elements: a clear line, inspired by the drawings of Hergé (Tintin) but also by De Stijl (from the beginning of the century).

His themes are contemporary with an ironic point of view towards “modern life”. He visualizes personal and social ideals in a “funny way”: in reality there is always something going wrong.

Photographs by Joan Koops