Luc Deleu
©image: M HKA
° 1944
Born in Duffel (BE), lives in Antwerp (BE).
Luc Deleu (°1944) calls Antwerp his home. In 1970, just after having graduated from his architectural studies, he founds the T.O.P. office (Turn-On Planning office) in Antwerp as an interdisciplinary urban planning company. That same year, Deleu also hold his first solo exhibition: Luc Deleu says goodbye to architecture for new horizons in the self-curated Antwerp Vacuüm gallery. To date, he has given up neither architecture nor art, seeing them both as closely related manifestations of thought: ‘I am an artist, because I am an architect.'
The T.O.P. office has always been radically focused on increasing opportunities for social reflection and has done this in a plethora of different ways. Deleu is a powerful presence on the Flemish and Belgian architectural scene, famous for his heated confrontations with the Belgian Architects Association, and for his recalcitrant perspectives that have influenced generations of architectural students, among which include ‘design research’, an idea that currently enjoys enormous sway and which he devised himself. Published in 1980, the ‘Orbanistisch Manifest’ [Manifesto to the World] represents the pinnacle of his ability for critical discourse, advocating that the rationale underlying urban planning be expanded worldwide.
Deleu's radical visual proposals take shape as plans or scale models, as well as in concrete actions, such as exercises in scale and perspective or container constructions. Many of the radical depictions, but also the arrangement of public architectural-planning presentations and socio-urban spaces for reflection materialise within the visual artistic space, distributed and safeguarded therein as well.
>Luc Deleu, Le PAQUEBOT "FRANCE". Voorstel tot recycling van de SS "France" door ombouw tot ideeëntransportschip na de installatie aldaar van de Europa Medium Universiteit, 1970.Print, ink, laminated paper, 116 x 111 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Mobile Medium University Revisited (floating U.I.A.), 1972-1982.Mixed Media, wood, plastic, paint, plexi, 110 x 60 x 25 cm.
>Luc Deleu, De Skipper, 1973-1975.Realized Work.
>George Smits, Luc Deleu, 2 spiegels Skipper, 1973.Installation, 2 mirrors, 60 x 50 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Mobile Medium Architecture Promotion, 1974.Print, ink, paper, 383 x 475 mm.
>Luc Deleu, Project for international Dunghill, 1974.Other, ink, paper, 134 x 100 cm.
>Luc Deleu, SATURNUS V. Voorstel de bestaande raketten te gebruiken om (nucleair) afval naar de zon te schieten [Proposal to Use Existing Rockets for Shooting (Nuclear) Refuse to the Sun], 1975.Print, ink, paper, 115 x 98.5 cm.
>Luc Deleu, MONTREAL STADIUM (MODEL) Voorstel voor naakte Olympische spelen,1976 te Montreal [Proposal for Naked Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976], 1976.Print, ink, paper, 114.5 x 99 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Legoconstructie, 1978.Collage, cibachrome, 65.5 x 65.5 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Legoconstructie [Lego Construction], 1978.Collage, cibachrome, 65.5 x 65.5 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Luc Deleu - Vrije ruimte / Espace libre / Open Space, 1980.Book, ink, paper, 29.6 x 21 cm, 31 p., language : Dutch, French, English, publisher : ICC/Internationaal Cultureel Centrum, Antwerpen.
>Luc Deleu, Schaal en Perspectief [Scale and Perspective], 1980.Sculpture, bristol cardboard, plastic, 80 x 80 x 80 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Schaal en Perspektief [Scale and Perspective], 1980.Drawing, ink, paper, 880 x 760 mm.
>Luc Deleu, Legoconstructie, 1981.Collage, cibachrome, 65.5 x 65.5 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Legoconstructie, 1982.Collage, cibachrome, 65.5 x 65.5 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Blondeel, 1983-1995.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Obelisk, 1983.Sculpture, lego, 226 x 91 x 91 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Panamarenko - Biekorfstraat, 1985.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Dépendance Furka, 1986-1997.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Les Nénuphars, 1986-1997.Realized Work.
>Jef Lambrecht, Guy Bleus, Maria Thereza Alves, Guy Rombouts, Monica Droste, Jacques Lizène, Luc Deleu, Johan van Geluwe, Facteur Cheval (expo), 1986.Poster, paper, ink (printing), 50 x 40 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Station Europa Centraal - Gare Europe Central, 1986.Installation, wood, plastic, cardboard, train, 115 x 725 x 216 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Jean-Marc Navez , Wilfried Huet, GA - Tijdschrift van de Galerij van de Akademie Van Waasmunster, Jrg.6, nr.5, november 1987, 1987.Periodical, ink, paper, 57.7 x 41.7 cm, 2 p., ill., language : Dutch, publisher : Galerij van de Akademie Van Waasmunster.
>Luc Deleu, Luc Deleu - Postfuturismus?, 1987.Book, ink, paper, 24,9 x 21 cm, 96 p., language : Dutch, English, French, publisher : Uitgeverij Den Gulden Engel/De Singel, Antwerpen, concept catalogue : Luc Deleu, ISBN : 90-5035-088-7.
>Luc Deleu, Antwerp, your next cruise stop ! , 1990.Object, pencil, indian ink, polyester film.
>Luc Deleu, Antwerp, your next cruise stop ! , 1990.Maquette, plastic, wood, 151 x 280 x 280 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Luc Deleu & T.O.P. Office 1967-1991, 1991.Book, ink, paper, 21 x 27,5 cm, 127 p., language : Dutch, French, English, publisher : Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Antwerpen.
>Luc Deleu, Hotel Stok 4, 1992-1995.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Hotel Stok 3, 1992-1995.Maquette.
>Luc Deleu, Hotel Stok 2, 1992-1995.Maquette.
>Luc Deleu, Hotel Stok 1, 1992-1995.Maquette.
>Luc Deleu, APC, 1993-1999.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, In 80 dagen rond de wereld - around the world in 80 days Weber - Madrid - Weber, 1993.Installation, mixed media, 193 x 102 cm.
>Luc Deleu, Madrid - Madrid en 80 jours par son antipode, 40°25S 176°17° (Weber), 1993.Mixed Media, 3 x (134 x 94 cm).
>Luc Deleu, Niebuur, 1997.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Clinckx, 1998-2001.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Casa Roja, 1998-2005.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, De Evenaar / The Equator W100°28'679, 1999.Photography, ink on canvas.
>Luc Deleu, Ventilatieschouw München, 1999-2002.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, VIPCITY - Zeemijl [VIPCITY - the Nautic Mile], 1999-2004.Installation, wood, paper, cardboard, styrofoam, 18.51 x 6 x 2 m.
>Luc Deleu, Vertigo, 2000-2003.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Belpaire, 2003-2008.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, BEC, Blankenberge, 2005-2008.Realized Work.
>Luc Deleu, Luc Deleu - Tribune (Diary 1971 - 1978), 2013.Video, 01:46:00.
>Luc Deleu, Groenplaats.Other.
>Luc Deleu, Proposition for a worldwide windmill network.Miscellaneum, postcard; ink, paper.
>Luc Deleu, Museum of Broken Art.Miscellaneum, postcard; ink on paper.
>Luc Deleu, Geen jets te Deurne... Orbanisch idee voor Antwerpen.Print, ink, paper, 1180 x 1080 mm.
>Luc Deleu, Voorstel tot totaal onbruik van de publieke verlichting. Orbanisch idee voor Antwerpen.Print, ink, paper, 1180 x 1080 mm.
>Luc Deleu, Voorstel tot totale decentralisatie van Antwerpen mediumstad.Print, ink, paper, 1180 x 1080 mm.
>Luc Deleu, Voorstel tot totale afschaffing van het verkeersreglement in Antwerpen.Print, ink on paper, 1180 x 1080 mm.
>Luc Deleu, Voorstel tot verwaarlozing van de wegverharding.Print, ink, paper, 1180 x 1080 mm.
Exhibitions & Ensembles
> Exhibition: AMBERES – Roberto Bolaño’s Antwerp. 07 June 2019 - 15 September 2019.
> Exhibition: A NON-U-MENTAL HISTORY OF M HKA – Part 1: Foundation Gordon Matta-Clark. 02 May 2021 - 29 August 2021.
> Exhibition: ARCHIVE PRESENTATION: T.O.P. office. 13 February 2021 - 25 April 2021.
> Exhibition: De Verzameling II en een keuze van schenkingen en bruiklenen. 30 June 1990 - 04 November 1990.
> Exhibition: ERCOLA 1968–2018. 15 September 2018 - 06 January 2019.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: DE INTERNATIONALE - Museum of Affects. 26 November 2011 - 29 January 2012.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Geel – Middle Gate II – The Story of Dymphna. 15 September 2018 - 04 November 2018.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Spirits of Internationalism. 21 January 2012 - 29 April 2012.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Tracés. Similarities and dissonants. 01 March 2012 - 31 March 2012.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Visite Bornem - Gedeelde Ruimte. 03 May 2014 - 25 May 2014.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Visite Herzele – Beyond words. 03 April 2015 - 03 May 2015.
> Exhibition: INBOX: Herinneringen aan Montevideo: De Antwerpse Avant-Garde in de vroeger jaren '80. Deel 1: 1981-1982. 17 June 2016 - 10 July 2016.
> Exhibition: Joseph Beuys – Greetings from the Eurasian. 13 October 2017 - 21 January 2018.
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> Exhibition: Kunstwerk van de maand 2014. 01 January 2014 - 31 December 2014.
> Exhibition: LATT: MUHKADEMIE 2013. 27 September 2013 - 05 January 2014.
> Exhibition: La ville inadaptée?. 19 April 2013 - 20 July 2013.
> Exhibition: Let's Play Museum. 10 June 2023 - 17 September 2023.
> Exhibition: Luc Deleu & T.O.P. Office 1967-1991. 30 March 1991 - 26 May 1991.
> Exhibition: MONOCULTURE | A Recent History. 25 September 2020 - 25 April 2021.
> Exhibition: Museum E!: The residents' choice. 23 April 2017 - 22 October 2017.
> Exhibition: Orban Space, Luc Deleu - T.O.P. office. 15 September 2013 - 17 November 2013.
> Exhibition: Superdemocracy – The Senate of Things. 01 October 2017 - 31 October 2017.
> Exhibition: The Collection. 28 April 2017 - 31 December 2021.
> Exhibition: The collection IV – Summer 2003. 31 May 2003 - 17 August 2003.
> Exhibition: The collection XXVII – East of 4°24'. 03 March 2011 - 21 August 2011.
> Exhibition: The collection XXXIII – The Collection as a Character. 07 June 2013 - 22 September 2013.
> Exhibition: The collection XXX – The Museum of Forgotten History, with intervention by Maarten Vanden Eynde. 29 June 2012 - 16 September 2012.
> Exhibition: Urgent Conversations: Antwerp – Athens, Part III. 16 September 2017 - 12 November 2017.
> Exhibition: Urgent Conversations Athens - Antwerp. 31 October 2016 - 05 February 2017.
> Exhibition: Visite Roeselare – The Green Line. 05 May 2016 - 19 June 2016.
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> Exhibition: Visite Schoten. 15 October 2011 - 25 November 2011.
> Ensemble: Aanwinsten 2014 [Acquisitions 2014].
> Ensemble: ARCHIEF JEF LAMBRECHT.
> Ensemble: Artist Books.
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> Ensemble: Benedenverdieping | Ground Floor.
> Ensemble: Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap.
> Ensemble: ESTATE JEF LAMBRECHT.
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> Ensemble: For The City and the World.
> Ensemble: Free International University (FIU).
> Ensemble: ICC POSTER ARCHIVE.
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> Ensemble: kunstenaarsboeken uit de jaren '80 [artists' books from the 80s].
> Ensemble: La Lanterne de Lantin.
> Ensemble: Luc Deleu & T.O.P. office.
> Ensemble: maatschappij.
> Ensemble: M HKA_DEFAULT_PUBLICATIONS.
> Ensemble: Middle Gate.
> Ensemble: MIGRATIE | MIGRATION.
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> Ensemble: MONOCULTURE - ARTWORKS.
> Ensemble: NUCLEUS.
> Ensemble: ONDERZOEK / RECHERCHE / RESEARCH / FORSCHUNG.
> Ensemble: Orbanism.
> Ensemble: Stichting Gordon Matta-Clark.
> Ensemble: SUPERDEMOCATIE / SUPERDEMOKRATIE / SUPERDEMOCRACY.
> Ensemble: The Collection.
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> Ensemble: UNIVERSALISM.
> Ensemble: Workstation Biekorfstraat.