Beyond the limit - 2001
"Beyond the Limit" enriquece el diálogo sobre las fronteras, tanto físicas como metafóricas, y nos invita a reflexionar sobre las dinámicas de poder que las atraviesan.
Este obra refleja la exploración de Theuninck sobre las zonas grises de la existencia humana y cómo la vanidad y el poder pueden llevarnos más allá de los límites éticos y morales.
"Beyond the Limit" enriches the dialogue about borders, both physical and metaphorical, and invites us to reflect on the power dynamics that traverse them. This work reflects Theuninck's exploration of the gray areas of human existence and how vanity and power can push us beyond ethical and moral boundaries.
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Beyond the limit
.
tempting is
the border area
hanging around
in the gray zone
watching the game
of back and forth
seeing how vanity
and power
push them
far
beyond the limit
© by Jan Theuninck
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Jan Theuninck (born June 7, 1954, in Zonnebeke, Belgium) is a Belgian painter and poet who writes primarily in French and occasionally in English. His work, including the poem "Beyond the Limit", is deeply rooted in reflections on human behavior, societal structures, and the exercise of power.
Key Themes in "Beyond the Limit":
Gray Zone Observation
The poem describes a “border area” and a gray zone, capturing spaces where moral and ethical boundaries are flexible or tested. This metaphor emphasizes the subtle and often hidden dynamics of power, where individuals constantly negotiate influence, dominance, and submission.
Game of Back and Forth
The text references “watching the game of back and forth”, suggesting the oscillating struggle for control and authority among individuals or groups. This is emblematic of real-world power structures where negotiation, competition, and opportunism dictate interactions.
Vanity and Power as Driving Forces
The line “seeing how vanity and power push them far beyond the limit” explicitly links the exercise of authority and ego-driven behavior to the transgression of ethical, societal, or personal limits. Theuninck critiques the ways in which those in power may exploit systems and relationships, often surpassing moral thresholds in pursuit of dominance.
Limits and Human Behavior
The poem’s repeated emphasis on being “beyond the limit” underscores humanity’s tendency to test constraints—political, psychological, or physical—particularly when fueled by ambition, vanity, or hierarchical pressures.
Contextual Relevance:
Theuninck’s broader work often critiques systemic abuse of power, totalitarian tendencies, and social micromanagement. He examines how governments, institutions, or hidden structures can manipulate and control individuals beyond recognized boundaries.
"Beyond the Limit" can thus be read not only as a personal reflection on human interaction but also as a commentary on societal and political power dynamics, highlighting the vulnerability of individuals in complex or oppressive systems.
Selected Excerpt from the Poem:
"tempting is the border area hanging around in the gray zone
watching the game of back and forth
seeing how vanity and power push them far beyond the limit"
This excerpt encapsulates the poem’s essence: a meditation on the interplay between human ambition and systemic pressures, where the pursuit of influence drives people to transgress established norms or personal ethical boundaries.
Conclusion:
Jan Theuninck’s "Beyond the Limit" offers a poetic exploration of power dynamics, focusing on how vanity, ambition, and the pursuit of control drive human behavior beyond moral and ethical limits. It serves both as a philosophical inquiry into human psychology and as a sociopolitical critique of authority structures and systemic overreach.
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Exhibited at Alfa & Omega, Het Perron, Ypres, Belgium from 06.10 until 12.11.17
Particpating artists: Marie Thérèse Dorina De Clercq & Willy Martin, Gilbert Degryse & Marc Debuysere, Patrick Deldaele & Jacob Baert, Nancy Demeester & Ludo Geloen, Hadewijch Everaert & Marc Bungeneers, Jenny Heyman & Jozef Vandromme, Jos Jacobs & Jan Coghe, Stéphanie Leblon & Gerda De Preter, Trees Le Roy & Trees Le Roy, Anne Marchand & Jean-Luc Vanhove, Wim Mouton & Sylvie Marie, Joz Noreille & Jo Noreille, Lieven Porteman & Joost Vanbrussel, Marcel Rademakers & Mark Meekers, Roger Raveel & Roger Verkarre, Lena Recour & Maurice Vandendorpe, Ute Resch & Jeanne Leniere, Bernard Sercu & Etienne Delbaere, Joeri Stubbe & Laurens Stubbe, Jan Theuninck & Jan Theuninck, Caroline Vancoillie & Gabrielle-Denise, Fernand Vanderplancke & Bart J.G. Bruijnen, Claire Vanfleteren & Claire Vanfleteren, Jean-Paul Vanhove & Elisabeth Van Winckel, RoBie Van Outryve & Roger de Neef, Godfried Vervisch & Dirk Clement, Lili Willemsen & Stef Dehollander.
Over de grens
aanlokkelijk is
het grensgebied
er blijven hangen
in de grijze zone
het spel gadeslaan
van heen en weer
zien hoe ijdelheid
en macht
hen opjaagt
tot ver
over de grens...
© by Jan Theuninck
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Oltre il limite
allettante è
la zona di frontiera
vagando
nella zona grigia
guardando la partita
di avanti e indietro
vedendo come vanità
e potere
spingerli
lontano
oltre il limite
© by Jan Theuninck
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The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits (Albert Einstein)
Someone tried to destroy it in 2001 (there is a slight dent in the black colour on the left side)
Hans-Georg Maassen 14.03.2024
