Thérèse Van de Moortele
Thérèse Van de Moortele is a self-taught artist who started drawing at a very early age. First began to paint in Brussels, Belgium in 1950. For a period of about 10 years, specialised in illuminated manuscripts, wooden frescoes and research into traditional techniques. At the same time she worked outdoors with water colours.
A long interruption in painting followed her marriage and the raising of six children, during which time she continued charcoal sketches and some water colours. In 1977, she started to paint again, this time in oil and on larger canvases, which allowed her to express herself with more freedom.
| Personal exhibitions | Group exhibitions |
| 1978- Le Havre.Galerie Expression | 1982- Paris. Salon des Indépendants |
| 1979- Poitiers. Galerie Mélusine | 1983- Cannes. Festival International. |
| 1980- Abu Dhabi. Alliance Française | 1984- Paris. La Halle aux Toiles |
| 1982- Poitiers. Hôtel de France. | 1984- Deauville. Borel |
| 1986- Paris. Galerie Horizon | 1985- Paris. Salon d’automne. |
| 1987- Paris. Galerie Hérouet | 1986- Orly. Galerie d’Art. |
| 1988- Hong Kong. Alliance Française | 1986- Paris. Art Sacré. |
| 1988- Hong Kong. Alisan Fine Arts. | 1991- Paris. Tours du Monde. |
| 1989- Paris. Galerie Arches et Toiles | |
| 1990- Paris. Galerie Etienne de Causans | Prices |
| 1991- Maracaibo Bellas Artes. | Médaille d’Argent : Société Académique |
| 1991- Paris. Galerie 8 Beaux Arts. | Arts- Sciences- Lettres |
| 1992- Maracaibo. Alliance Française. | Médaille d’Argent : Mérite et Dévouement Français |
| 1992-Maracaibo Galerie Sietecentos. | Médaille d’Argent : Académie Internationale de Lutèce. |
| 1992- Chatellerault. Mairie | |
| 1993- Paris. Galerie Hérouet. | |
| Works in private collections | |
|---|---|
| Tisserand collection in Abu Dhabi | Tjonsdland collection in Norway |
| Moore collection in Chicago | Brown collection in New York |
From 27th September to 19th October 2008, visitors will have the chance to encounter in our gallery the imaginary world of paintings by Thérèse Van de Moortele and to join her on travels through the landscapes of architectures built both on dry land and sea; to wander through endless, mysterious interiors; to follow paths outlined by staircases, ladders and rods, and try to find where they run into – along with only a few human figures who had gone stray into them. The artist has been developing the integrity of her own personality and the harmony of her attitude to life through her wanderings in seemingly real landscapes that await her beyond the frame of her canvases, similarly as the wonderland beyond the mirror awaited Alice of Lewis Carrol.
In her paintings, she confronts us with the challenge to set off on this journey full of mysteries, pitfalls, blind alleys… Whether with people or alone, we look up to the imposing, monumental interiors, sometimes absolutely perfect, another time half-desolated… We climb staircases and ladders and rods up to windows and plateaus under high blue sky to look down or peep into other, distant worlds – and we do not ask about the way down. Sometimes we solely admire from a distance the albeit elaborate and perfected, but deserted buildings whose sense and purpose escape us, and we are overwhelmed by the desire to get closer to them, at least on water on a boat with yard, or to enter the half-opened gate towards the mysterious city on a horizon. Those who once set off with Thérèse Van de Moortele to her inner landscapes cannot get disentangled from them and must return to them again and again to explore more and more indicated paths… And as they wander, they also start to understand the labyrinths of their own lives.