Gerard Caris (20 March 1925 – 2 January 2025) was a Dutch sculptor and artist who pursued a single motif throughout the course of his artistic career, the pentagon.
Early life and education
Caris was born in Maastricht, Netherlands on 20 March 1925. After attending the technical school in Maastricht he joined the marines as war volunteer trained in Camp Lejeune, N.C., United States, to end the occupation by Japan in World War II. During his training the war was ended by the atom bomb and he was sent to the late colony of the Netherlands Indonesia. In 1947 he came back to the Netherlands, only to leave soon afterwards to the far East in an attempt to escape the poverty of his native surroundings. Ten years later he decided to emigrate to the U.S. Here he studied art and philosophy at the New York University. Combining his art classes with earning a living and visiting all art happenings, museums and galleries, for example the Tinguely happening at the MOMA in NY in 1960 he was overwhelmed by Abstract expressionism and left for the Arabian desert in Dhofar, a sultanate of Muscat and Oman where he worked in his former trade as a petroleum engineer.Catalog of an exhibition "Gerard Caris : pentagonisme = pentagonism" held at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam 6 Oct. – 25 November 2001. Includes statement by the artist. "Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam cat.no.860 [SMA Cahiers 23]" Evert van Uitert p.10-15 He did one more important job project, the erection of the Telstar Horn Antenna at the Andover earth station in Maine, then he traveled to California, inspired by the movie he watched while working in the Arabian desert Strangers When We Meet. He studied at the Monterey Peninsula College, California, the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies and San José College (arts and humanities) subsequently at the University of California, Berkeley, a.o. with David Hockney, R.B. Kitaj, Elmer Bischoff and Richard Diebenkorn (In 1967 B. A. in Philosophy, in 1969 M.A. in arts). He returned for a “short visit” to the Netherlands where he continued his art practice without realizing there was no intellectual resonance where he worked but he was so possessed with his newly discovered Pentagonism that he did not realize he has landed on the moon. He kept working continually, evolving new ideas, executing them, and making them public through exhibitions and publications, remaining optimistic, believing that he had added a new chapter to the history of art self coined as Pentagonism.Gerard Caris : Pentagonismus = Pentagonism / herausgegeben von/edited by Gregor Jansen & Peter Weibel. Published : Köln : W. König; Karlsruhe : Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnnologie Karlsruhe, 2007. p 15-19
Caris died on 2 January 2025, at the age of 99.
Gallery Studio of Gerard Caris (1983)From the collection of Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
From the collection of Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven From the collection of Bonnefantenmuseum, Maatricht
From the collection of Centraal Museum, Utrecht
From the collection of Peter c Ruppert
From the collection of Wilhelm-Hack Museum
From the collection of ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe
Bibliography
Catalogues Gerard Caris, Exhibition catalogue, Cultureel Centrum Venlo, 1972. The golden section and the work of Caris (with texts by P. Huijbers, B. Lootsma, T. Prüst), Exhibition catalogue, Technical University Eindhoven, 1980. Frederik van der Blij, Wouter Kotte (Eds.), Gerard Caris en de vijfhoek/Gerard Caris und das Fünfeck (with texts by F. v. d. Blij, F. Boselie, P. Hartmann, W Kotte, F. Saris, K. Woensdregt), Exhibition catalogue, Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst, Utrecht, 1987, Stadtmuseum Ratingen, 1988. Measurable infinity. Constructions of the Pentagon/Meetbare oneindigheid. Constructies vanuit de vijfhoek (with texts by B. Holeczek, J. Vanbergen), Exhibition catalogue, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, 1991. Siegfried Salzmann (Ed.), Gerard Caris and the nature of art (with texts by S. Salzmann, U. Bohnen), Exhibition catalogue, Kunsthalle Bremen, 1993. Gerard Caris. Drawings (with texts by U. Bohnen, J. Poot), SMA. Cahiers, 8, Exhibition catalogue Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1997. . Gerard Caris - Kunst und Mathematik.Neue Refiexionen über das Fünfeck/Gerard Caris -Art and Mathematics.New reflections on the pentagon (with texts by U. Bohnen, R. W Gassen, H. A. Lauwerier, E. van Uitert), Exhibition catalogue, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, 1999. Dietmar Guderian, Peter Volkwein (Eds.), Gerard Caris - Gestalten und Forschen mit dem Pentagon, Exhibition catalogue, Museum für konkrete Kunst, Ingolstadt, 2000. Gerard Caris. Pentagonisme/Pentagonism (with texts by R. Fuchs, E. van Uitert, J. van de Craats, R. Salomon), SMA Cahiers, 23, Exhibition catalogue, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 2001. Gregor Jansen, Peter Weibel (Eds.), Gerard Caris. Pentagonismus Pentagonism (with texts by B. Artmann, A. van den Braembussche, J. van de Craats, R. H. Dijkgraaf, H. H. Holz, S. Zeki), Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Köln, 2007. Ayşe Orhun Gültekin, Editor, Gerard Caris: Beşgencilik/Pentagonism (with texts by Julien Bogousslavsky, Mark A. Cheetham, Francis Halsall, Beral Madra, Laura U. Marks and John Onians), KUAD Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2012 Projecting Pentagonism: the aesthetic of Gerard Caris (with texts by Tomohiro Ishiszu, Katie McGown, John Onians and Grant Pooke) exhibition catalogue Sidney Cooper Gallery ( Canterbury Christ Church University) Canterbury, 2018
References in books Paul Haimon, Limburgse Schilders. Uitgeverij Inter Limburg, Heerlen/Hasselt. 1979. Hennie v.d. Louw, 0,618, BRES 84, Stichting European, Universities Press Amsterdam 1980 R. G. J. Ackerstaff, Goedkoper bouwen 2, Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieubeheer. Rotterdam 1982. Joop M. Joosten (Ed.), 20 jaar verzamelen, Aanwinsten Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam 1963 – 1984. Schilder- en beeldhouwkunst, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1984. W.L. Boer (Ed.), Wiskunde Lijn, Jacob Dijkstra, Groningen 1990. Wim Beeren (Ed.), Aanwinsten/Acquisitions 1985 - 1993, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1993. Siegfried Salzmann, Heiderose Langer (Eds.), Katalog der Neuerwerbungen und Schenkungen 1985 - 1993, Kunsthalle Bremen, 1993 Karin v. Maur (Ed.), Magie der Zahl in der Kunst des 20. Jahrhunderts, Exhibition catalogue Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Hatje, Ostfildern-Ruit,1997. Günther Meißner (Hg./ed.), Saur allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, Bd./vol. 16, Saur, München, Leipzig, 1997. Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht (Hg./ed.), De Limburgers van het azM/Limburg artists at the azM, Maastricht, 1998. Dick Bos (Hg./ed.), Moderne Wiskunde, Wolters Noordhoff, Groningen, 1999. Frederik van der Blij, Wiskunde met verve, Wolters Noordhoff, Groningen, 1999. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in 2001, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 2002. Ger Kemmerling (Ed.), DSM Art Collection, Heerlen 2002. Albert Van Wiemeersch, Prominenten van de beeldende kunst in de twintigste eeuw: 1901-2000 Tielt, Lannoo 2003. Mondriaanhuis Museum voor Constructieve en Concrete Kunst (Hg./ed.), De bomen van Pythagoras– Geconstrueerde groei (with texts by A. De Jongh-Vermeulen, A. Goddijn, / with introduction by A. Dijkxhoorn), Exhibition catalogue., Mondriaanhuis Museum voor Constructieve en Concrete Kunst, Amersfoort 2003. Dietmar Guderian, “Mathematics in Contemporary Arts - Finite and Infinity,” in: Michele Emmer (Hg./ed.), Mathematics and Culture, Bd. vol. II: Visual Perfection: Mathematics and Creativity, Springer Verlag, Berlin et al., 2005. Jutta Laurinat, Lohn der Arbeit, Westdeutscher Künstlerbund e.V. Bochum (Hg./ed), Bochum 2005 Dick Bos (et al.): Moderne Wiskunde, Groningen Wolters Noordhoff, 2005. Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, (Ed.), Acquisitions 1993- 2003, Amsterdam 2006. Marlene Lauter (Ed.), Ausgerechnet... Mathematik und Konkreter Kunst, Exhibition catalogue, Museum im Kulturspeicher Würzburg, Spurbuch, Baunach, 2007. Spurbuchverlag Heinz Schumann, Schulgeometrie im virtuellen Handlungsraum Hildesheim; Berlin: Franzbecker, 2007. Alexander van Grevenstein, Paula van den Bosch, Bonnefantenmuseum Collectie Hedendaagse Kunst, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, 2007. Cor Wetting (Ed.), Bridges & Passages, Sprezzatura, Leeuwarden, 2008. Robbert Dijkgraaf Blikwisselingen Prometheus 2008. Capita selecta wiskunde, Open Universiteit Nederland, Heerlen 2009. Hans Heinz Holz Bild – Sprachen Gesammelte Aufsätze zu Kunst und Künstlern, Aisthesis Verlag 2009, Walter Nikkels, Depicted Afgebeeld Abgebildet, Valiz 2013 Lynn Gamwell, Mathematics and Art:A Cultural History Princeton University Press 2015. E. Torrence, B. Torrence, C. Séquin, D. McKenna, K. Fenyvesi and R. Sarhangi : Bridges 2016, Proceedings, Cornelie Leopold Geometry and Aesthetics of Pentagonal Structures in the Art of Gerard Caris Tesselations Publishing, Phoenix, Arizona, USA 2016. John Onians, European Art A Neuroarthistory, Yale University Press 2016. Guido Winkler, Iemke van Dijk, Beelden in Leiden 2017 Raakvlakken. EAN / Peter Weibel, NEGATIVE SPACE TRAJECTORIES OF SCULPTURE Booklet of ZKM Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe 2019
Texts and essays Leering, Jean; Beselaere, W. van: Triënnale der zuidelijke Nederlanden / Catalogue, Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven 1968 Staalkaart van de Limburgse musea en oudheidkamers / Catalogue, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht,1969 Catalogue, Musée des Beaux Arts, Antwerpen 1969 Szénássy, István: Goden en heiligen in Limburg / Catalogue, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht 1969 Catalogue, Raadhuis Heerlen 1969 Blok, C.; Martinet, Jan: 50 x 50 / Catalogue, Openbaar Kunstbezit, Amsterdam 1970 Peeters, Jan: Inleiding tentoonstelling Gerard Caris / Cultureel Centrum, Venlo 1970 Coumans, Willem K.: Kunst in Limburg / Catalogue, Raadhuis Heerlen 1971 Bloem, Marja: Atelier 9 / Brochure, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam 1971 Holländische künstler spenden für Pakistan flüchtlinge / Catalogue, Patriotische Gesellschaft von 765, Hamburg 1971 Eeden, Piet van dAe: Inleiding bij de tentoonstelling Gerard Caris / Cultureel Centrum Venlo 1972 Catalogue, Musée des Beaux Arts, Antwerpen 1973 Becker, Wolfgang; Coumans, Willem K.: Enkel des Stijl – Künstler aus einer beschädigten Provinz auf der Suche nach einer neuen Ordnung / Catalogue, Neue Galerie Sammlung Ludwig, Aachen 1973 Alberigs, L.M.: 36 Graphiker aus den Niederlanden / Catalogue, Dortmund e.a. 1974 Grafika z Limburgi / Catalogue, Krakau, Listopad 1975 Hommage à Cassel – Prix de Cassel / Catalogue, Dokumentation 2, Kassel 1977 Grimme, Ernst Günther / Catalogue, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen 1979 Grafiek uit de Benelux / Catalogue, COSA, Centre International Rogier, Bruxelles 1979 Huijbers, P.; Lootsma, B.; Prüst, T.: De gulden snede en het werk van Caris / The golden section and the work of Caris. / Catalogue exhibition Technical University Eindhoven 1980 Boon, S.: Inleiding bij de tentoonstelling: De gulden snede en het werk van Caris / Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Eindhoven 1980 Boyens, José: Middelheim Beeldhouwkunst uit het zuiden van Nederland / Catalogue, Antwerpen 1982 Jacob, Teun: Opdrachten /Aankopen /Catalogue, Centrum Beeldende Kunst, Rotterdam 1983 Remkes, Ben: Formen – Zeichen – Bilder; Forms – Signs – Pictures / Catalogue, Verein für Original Radierung, München 1987 Blij, F.v.d.; Boselie, F.; Hartman, P.; Kotte, W.; Saris, F.; Woensdregt, K.: Gerard Caris en de vijfhoek / Catalogue tentoonstelling Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst, Utrecht 1987 Grevenstein, A.v.; Himmelreich, A.; Kenis, J.: PLAN, Gids-Guide Führer / Catalogue, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht 1988 Wagemans, F.: Centraal Zuid / Catalogue, Stichting Kunst en Bedrijf, Amsterdam 1988 Hesselbein, Martin; Webb, Diane: Een musicus op bezoek bij Gerard Caris / Bonnefans Bulletin, nr. 2 (uitgave van het Bonnefantenmuseum), Maastricht 1991