Painter and poet – Lucebert was genius in both arts throughout his lifetime. First, he gained national recognition with his poems, he was awarded the lyrics prize by the city of Amsterdam in 1954 and in 1968 he received the national award for literature. Since the late 1950s, Lucebert focused on painting, drawings however he created always and left an incredible rich oeuvre. Lucebert pictorial world sometimes seems to overwhelm the viewer; but as horrid and grotesque as it is, its core is deeply human, ironical, full of humor and phantasy. Figures half men half animal are dancing and and flying in his paintings. Lucebert was an early member of the CoBrA group; he contributed at the famous exhibition at Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam with some poems illustrated in his characteristic style. It was the hope of a new spirit, the drive for freedom that unified the generation of young artists just after World War II.
1924: Lucebert is born on 15 September in Amsterdam as Lubertus Swaanswijk.
1938: Starts studying at the Institute of Arts and Crafts in Amsterdam but breaks off after six months.
1942-43: Forced labour in Germany.
1948: First exhibition of drawings in an assembly room of AA; joins the Dutch Experimental Group.
1949: Publishes his first poems in the magazine REFLEX, which is published by the Dutch Experimental Group. Participates in the first CoBrA exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum with illustrated poems. Joins CoBrA.
1951: Lucebert’s first book of poetry is published.
1952: Moves to Bergen.
1954: Awarded a literary prize by the city of Amsterdam.
1958: Debut exhibition as a painter at a gallery in Haarlem.
1959: Participates in the Documenta II in Kassel and has a solo exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
As of 1962: Becomes attracted to oil painting.
1968: Lucebert is awarded the highest literary prize of The Netherlands, the P.C. Hooftprijs.
1983: Does wall murals for the Letterkundige Museum (“Literature Museum”) in Den Haag.
1985: Creates a mural for the school community of Oost Groningen.
1986/87: Exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Alkmaar.
1994: Lucebert dies in Amsterdam on 10 May.
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