Emmanuel Tête

Emmanuel Tête. Born in 1973. Lives and works in Brussels

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My current work revolves around dreamlike figurative drawings, an imaginary world

rooted in pre-Renaissance Italian painting.

Whether philosophical, poetic or political, the subjects I tackle are as much about our

contemporary world, as they are about the nature of painting.

In this little theatre of human passions, while pursuing their “little poetic affairs”, the

protagonists seem oblivious to the pictorial purpose they serve, just as we are, in our

social structures determine contemporary societies.

However, I can only address these social or political issues by moving them into

another world. A world that I also see as a bulwark against contemporary violence.

When I depict a battlefield, it's as much to explore what this subject offers me as a

creative opportunity to express the fears and anxieties that run through me (us). The

painting is always the background,“ said Gilles Aillaud,” in other words, there's nothing

behind it. Interpretations come and go, but only their formal layout remains. And this

physical persistence cannot be denied in the same way as an idea.​

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Solo exhibitions and performances:

2024 Des nouvelles du royaume, Rossicontemporary, Brussels 2022 Dans la peau du

deluge, Rossicontemporary, Brussels 2019 Poussières, Rossicontemporary,

Bruxelles; Jardin de contes, Bastogne 2018 New drawings, Art Brussels, Bruxelles

2017 Jardingue, Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles 2016 Dessinarrer,

Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles 2014 Credi Poetic, Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles; The

Famous Painter Ping-Pong Tournament, Buktapaktop, Bruxelles 2012 Le

somnambule: la peinture a quitté son lit, Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles; Tout le monde

n'est pas Cézanne (performance), Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts, Bruxelles; Zone

de mobilité poétic (performance), Bruxelles 2011 Images du monde flottant,

Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles 2009 Ticket provisoire, Troisième-ètage, Bruxelles; Maître-achat, Cinéma Nova,

Bruxelles; Salade tout, V-tro, Bruxelles, 2007 Voir, Ateliers Mommen, Bruxelles 2005 A complèter par le chômeur,

Bureau de pointage, Saint-Josse

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Group exhibitions:

2024 Le monde a changé, Rossicontemporary, 2019 Territoires, Hôtel Van de Velde,

Ixelles 2016 Au lieu, Rossicontemporary, Brussels 2015 Parfois l'énigme,

Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles 2014 Il y a des mondes, des espaces et des temps pour

tous les êtres vivants, Aplat du jour (performance), Centre Culturel,

Marchin; Panorama, Rossicontemporary, Bruxelles 2013 Champ brodé, Les Drapiers,

Liège; Petitwiels#3 Tomorrow, Credi Poetic (performance), Les Brigittines, Bruxelles

2011 Poriboxkippis, Fumoir n°11, Bruxelles; Canards chevelus, canards perdus,

Dessins & peintures (avec Dominique Thirion), La Charcuterie,

Bruxelles; Vagabondages, Gallery 3H+K & Tadeio Musem, Pori, Finlande; Petit Wiels

# 2 Melting Point, Bureau des réunifications (performance) Café La Brocante,

Bruxelles 2010 Festival Babelgique, Aplat du jour (performance), Dijon;Incomplétude,

S.M.A.K, Gent 2009 A few small changes, discours du ministre de la culture,

(performance) H29, Bruxelles;Trouble-fait, Chez Rita, Roubaix 2008 Il faudra qu'on en

discute demain matin, Galerie Interface, Dijon 2006 A(r)ctivisme, Jacques Franck,

Bruxelles 2005 Thuis in de Beschaving, Ruimte Morguen, Antwerpen; The Return of

the Swallows, Bozar, Bruxelles; Travaïe, Cinéma Nova, Bruxelles 2003 Crash’in

machine, Bureau de pointage de saint-Josse, Bruxelles; Qui décide la beauté, Tunnel

Thomas, Bruxelles; Plaidoyer pour le retour, Bureau de pointage de saint-Josse,

Bruxelles

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Monographies: Jardingue, self-published, Bruxelles, 2017; Livre d'Or, self-published,

Bruxelles, 2014

 

​Press articles:

Gilles Bechet, Le drôle de paradis d’Emmanuel Tête, in Mu in the City,

10 octobre 2019 ; Gilles Bechet, Nouvelles du paradis, in Bruzz, # 1678, 4-10/10 2019,

p. 35 ; Stève Polus, La Tête Gallery d’Emmanuel, in Wolvendael, #651, septembre

2019, p. 138 ; Sandra Caltagirone, Parcelles du monde, in L' Art Même, n° 78, 2ème

quadrimestre 2019, p. 52 ; Kurt Snoekx, Une tendre incarnation, in Bruzz, 10-16/05

2019, p. 20-21 ; Guy Gilsoul, La revanche de la musaraigne, in www.focus.levif.be,

3/12/2017 ; Muriel de Crayencour, N'en faire qu'à sa tête, in www.mu-inthecity.com,

30/11/2017 ; Kurt Snoekx, The Secret Garden, in Bruzz, 17/11/2017, # 1592, p.37 ;

Guy Gilsoul, Mais que se passe-t-il dans cette rue ?, in www.focus.levif.be, 1 mai

2016 ; Roger Pierre Turine, "Dessinarrer" selon Tête, in Arts Libre, # 311, 1 avril 2016, p. 2-3