Christian Dotremont

Christian Dotremont, born December 12, 1922 in Tervuren, Belgium, and died August 20, 1979 in Buizingen, was a Belgian painter and poet, famous for his logograms.

Born into a family of Catholic scholars, he was raised by the Jesuits while his mother published at Editions Degrelle. In Paris in 1941 he participated in the activities of the surrealist group (interim), La Main à Plume created by Jean-François Chabrun and Noël Arnaud. He became a flawless animator with his two friends. In Brussels he founded the Belgian revolutionary surrealism group in 1947. In 1948, he created the CoBrA group with Karel Appel, Constant, Corneille, Jorn and Joseph Noiret and wrote the anti-theoretical manifesto: "The cause is understood". His logograms, by which poetry is improvised through graphic creation, are true poems to behold. His source of inspiration is calligraphy. Christian Dotremont suggests "seeing" writing rather than reading it. It is also a free writing expressing "his cry" and/or "his song" and in all cases he offers his text in clear under the logogram. The CoBrA movement ceased in 1951, due to the illness of the two protagonists: Jorn and Dotremont; thus, CoBrA, a true laboratory of artistic experiences, will then serve for the blossoming of individualities. However, Christian Dotremont, animator, theoretician, commentator and general secretary of the movement during its three years of existence, will remain for the members of the group a link between them. His ideas will influence the Situationist International. Christian Dotremont will work with Guy Debord, who will be his master and his guide for the art of cinema. Christian Dotremont died on August 20, 1979 in Buizingen, he is buried in the village of Maredret in Belgium.