Schauvliege and Peeters pay homage to ‘Flemish giant’

Flemish minister for culture Joke Schauvliege CD&V and Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters CD&V have both responded to the death of the artist Roger Raveel yesterday. Peeters spoke on behalf of the Flemish government when he expressed his “deepest condolences” to Raveel’s family and friends, saying: “He was a great painter, graphic artist and sculptor, relentlessly innovative and contemporary.He stubbornly refused to make artistic concessions. The almost unbearable tension of his work gave expression to the complexity of life and earned him considerable admiration. He will live on in his works of art and in the Roger Raveel Museum, which pays testimony to one of our biggest artists ever.”“I had the honour to meet Roger Raveel on several occasions,” says Schauvliege. “He was a Flemish giant, an international icon of the arts whose ‘New Vision’ his artistic credo, ed. portrayed daily objects in an original and unusual way; blending fresh colours and so-called blind spots. Although most of his work was inspired by the Leie and Machelen, the appeal of his art was universal. He was a warm person who enthusiastically talked about art and commitment with gentleness and humility. His long and full life makes us believe that his passion for art was like a raging fire that produced unbridled energy.”