D53 Before Conversation Fig.154, 2006

As a visual artist, Jan De Cock creates installations where the creation itself is part of the exhibition. Many of his works include performance and feature his own photography. He uses 20th century abstract art techniques to explore the effects of modern design and mass production on the world of art. A number of his works use the word Denkmal in the title, which means “monument” in German. However in his native language of Dutch, Denkmal has a different meaning: denk “to think” and mal “to mold”. Therefore his works are said to spark different ways to think and look at his subjects instead of having a singular meaning. Jan De Cock is considered a modernist artist, and his works explore the ways an artist can relate to the modernist approach. He lives and works in Belgium where he is only the second Belgian artist to present an exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. (Artist website)