Jef Geys
St. Lamberti-church 1997. © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2017. Foto: Roman Mensing / artdoc.de
Geloof niet wat u ziet [Don’t believe what you see]
1997
Interactive project
Mobile elevating work platform, visitors
Location
Temporary performance at various times throughout Skulptur. Projekte in Münster 1997:
12./13.7.1997 Historic section of the Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, north-eastern corner
19./20.7.1997 St. Paulus cathedral, Paradise, south-western corner (Sunday from 12.30 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.)
26./27.7.1997 St. Paulus cathedral, Paradise, south-western corner (Sunday from 12.30 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.)
2./3.8.1997 St. Paulus cathedral, Paradise, south-western corner (Sunday from 12.30 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. and 3.45 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.)
9./10.8.1997 St. Lamberti-Kirche, southern entrance
16./17.8.1997 St. Lamberti-Kirche, southern entrance
23./24.8.1997 Apostelkirche, south-eastern corner
30./31.8.1997 Apostelkirche, south-eastern corner
6./7.9.1997 St. Aegidii-Kirche, western entrance
13./14.9.1997 St. Aegidii-Kirche, western entrance
20./21.9.1997 St. Ludgeri-Kirche, north-eastern corner
27./28.9.1997 St. Ludgeri-Kirche, north-eastern corner
Jef Geys
* 1934 in Leopoldsburg, Belgium
† 2018 in Genk, Belgium
In 1997 Jef Geys had an elevating work platform installed at fixed times in front of seven churches around the centre of Münster, including the cathedral and St. Lamberti-Kirche. Interested visitors were lifted on height-adjustable platforms higher and closer to the church façades so they could inspect the architecture, the sculpted figures and façade ornaments from any position they wished.
Instead of producing a material work of art Geys initiated a participatory project that constantly changed location and schedule. The decision to create this project resulted from the impression the artist had gained of the city: with its many churches, he said, Münster already possessed such valuable artistic treasures to which he had nothing to add.1 Geys worked with the spatial situation he encountered and invited people to examine the buildings from an unfamiliar perspective and at eye level. Hence the title Geloof niet wat u ziet is not meant as a recommendation in general to be sceptical but rather as an exhortation to seek out different angles of vision.
Daniel Friedt
Location
- Still existing / Public Collection
- Removed
- In the museum