Mark Verstockt

Mark Verstockt or Marc Verstockt (16 July 193014 May 2014) was a Belgian multidisciplinary artist. Since the 1950s he has been working on an oeuvre containing paintings, drawings, sculptures, publications, video and his own theory about form. His work has shown itself in different styles over time as lyrical abstraction, constructivism and minimalism. An overall constant is his fascination for the geometric figures such as the circle, the triangle and especially the square.

Career

Education Verstockt starts his studies in philosophy and literature at Ghent University. Then he went to the Academy of Antwerp and he finished studying at HISK Antwerp. There he develops as a painter in the trend of lyrical abstraction, a movement growing in Paris at that time. His first works follow this movement with references to nature and the cosmos. During his studies he met Dan Van Severen, they both find their way into constructivism.

1960–1980 From 1963 Verstockt started creating monochrome geometrical structures, mostly based on the square. During the midst of 1960, he attained a geometrical visual language. At the end of 1960 he chose resolutely for the geometrical abstraction, leaving the lyrical tendency behind. Verstockt claimed that for him the geometrical aspect is secondary to the structure. His fascination for the square and cubes is notable in his work from that point onwards. In later works he can be seen as a defender of minimal art.

Verstockt always keeps looking for different kinds of experiments to further his structural research. Besides being an independent artist, Verstockt also worked as a graphic designer making posters and books. In 1971 he published his own book after 20 years of research called This is not a book, challenging the essence of what a book should be and how it should be made. He also deepens his research of the geometrical forms in some (monumental) sculptures. His most known sculpture in Belgium is The Signal from 1972 that was situated in Sint-Niklaas. Together with his other sculptures such as Yellow object from 1968 and Plexiglass boxes from 1974, he became a defender of minimal art. He kept on looking for new materials and techniques, exploring new media such as video art. The book comes in a white plastic square box with a window, inside are cardboard sheets, plastic, three pop-ups, a vinyl produced by Verstockt, a catalogue, a page in Braille, a package with 6 cardboard plates for 3D construction and a life size poster of Verstockt himself. The non-book is an exercise in looking with a new form of interaction included, the viewer is invited to use the book and participate.

The signal (1972) The signal was a monumental steel sculpture with a height of 18 meters. It was located at the entrance to Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, along the exit of the highway next to the Waasland Shopping Center. With the expansion of the commercial center in 2004, the sculpture disappeared and got replaced by an advertising column. Verstockt was never officially informed and there is confusion about what happened tot the sculpture. Art platform WARP organized a writing contest to bring attention the disappearance called Without a trace, young writers could submit their own version of events about the missing sculpture.

Five acts on screen (1974) Five acts on screen was a video Verstockt realized in 1974 published by Continental in Antwerp. It is a registration of himself during a creative process. Paintings from the 1950s, Callewaert-Vanlangendonck Gallery, September and October 2018. A book was also published, Mark Verstockt. Genesis and development of a form language.

Group exhibitions Forum, Ghent, 1962 Forum, Ghent, 1963 Coup de Ville, Sint-Niklaas, 2010. Organised by Warp. Work by more than 30 artists at various locations in the city. A structure consisting of geometrical white L-shaped volumes leaning against each other by Verstockt was presented.