The Belgian ZERO artist Jef Verheyen (1932-1984) became known as the painter of light streams and colour spectra. He experimented not only with light, but also with movement and the invisible as means to evoke natural mechanisms and to reveal universal interrelationships between human beings and the surrounding world. He used geometric principles – his passion for geometry was born out of his interest in mathematics and (Greek) philosophy – as the basis for harmony. Verheyen never gave up on traditional media and materials such as the canvas, paint, and brushes to search for the essence of our nature. 

Jef Verheyen - Window on Infinity

©Scan: CKV - Jef Verheyen Archive
Publication of the manifesto 'Essentialism' (1958) in the periodical De Tafelronde 8, nr. 3, 1963
Jef Verheyen Archive
Periodical
Ink on paper

De Tafelronde Vol. 8 (1963) Nr. 3: 'ESSENTIALISME'

Content:

1. Essentialisme (FR)
2. Zij die zeggen
3. Pour une peinture non plastique
4. Kleur is ritme / Het verschil tussen de essentialistisiche en de vroegere lichtopvatting
5. Afgekoelde materie = Afgekoelde Amaterie (sketch)
6. META = ULTRA
7. Si la mécanisation de l'humanité... (FR)
8. Man sagt: ein Wald bildet eine Einhet
9. Supermekanisatie, superrationalisatie, superhygiëne
10. DE ULTRAWERKELIJKHEID
11. Als de binnenvorm de buitenvorm is
12. HET.
13. Essentialisme = 0 + 1
14. VAN A = A TOT PANTA RHEI