Luc Peire

‘My painting is not one of forms, but of rhythm and proportion, in order to create a tension that requires contemplation. For me, the spiritual dimension of a work is more important than its plastic surface,’ said Luc Peire (1916-1994). His oeuvre, which he created in 26 different studios across the world, became increasingly sober, evolving toward an abstract-geometric language of forms.

At the end of the 1950s, Luc Peire moved to Paris, which at the time was the vibrant center of modern art. Yet every summer he returned to Knokke-Heist. Peire embodied an avant-garde spirit: alongside paintings, he also created monumental integrated artworks, including projects for the Brussels metro and in Marne-la-Vallée. One of his most remarkable works is Environment, a cube-shaped installation with mirrors installed on the floor and ceiling. Within it, his sharp, vertical lines seem to extend endlessly, surrounding visitors in Peire’s abstract universe.

Cover image: Luc Peire, Brasilea, oil on canvas, 114 x 162 cm, signed and dated on the reverse: Peire 61, Provincial Collection of West Flanders