[TheForge] The metal artistry of Guillaume Leunens

[Andrew Vida]

Folks,

I have been in contact with Victor Leunens.  I will be acting as a
selling agent for his father's remaining artworks.  Guillaume Leunens'
work is spectacular and very singular in the world of fine art. He
painted on metal using metal as his medium.  To date, nobody has been
able to figure out how he did it.  Apart from the aesthetic value of
his work, the mystery of his technique merits preservation.  To that
end I will be working to ensure that the remaining works find their
ways into public and private collections where they will be preserved
for posterity to the benefit of all.

Victor will be spending the coming month photographing the
approximately 185 paintings in his possession from which a portfolio
will be assembled for public benefit, as well as a catalog to
potential buyers.

This is a heads up to everyone here as to what is happening with what
are perhaps the most technically mysterious works of fine art
contrived in human history as well as some of the most aesthetically
significant work of the 20th century.  I feel honored and privileged
to have been asked to serve in this initial role for the preservation
of art that has become very close to my heart on many levels.  My one
regret is that I did not have the opportunity to meet Guillaume
Leunens personally.  Perhaps it is better that I did not, for I am
certain I would have made a pest of myself to learn how he did what he
did with metal as paint.  As it is I have spent more than a few hours
wondering and pondering how such work may have been carried out.  I
spoke with Victor last night and he informed me that Guillaume was
also able to bond aluminum to *paper* in the same manner as with
aluminum, which is to say with absolutely no indication that heat was
part of the process, yet producing what appears to be an atomic
bonding!  That, I have to say, kept me up last night for a good while.

Finally, if anyone here knows anyone anywhere who would be interested
in purchasing the work of Guillaume Leunens, whether privately or
though a museum, I would be very happy to hear from you.  My greatest
concern is that these fabulous and significant works of metallic art
will end up in obscurity or, far worse yet, may be destroyed for want
of preservation, which would be a terrible loss to the art world and I
dare say to humanity's aesthetic legacy.

As always, examples of his work and some history of Guillaume Leunens
may be viewed at http://leunens.ca

Thank you all and best wishes -

    -Andy Vida