global conscience - Jan Theuninck, 2016

Theunink's oeuvre can be seen as a visual exploration of the global conscience—a recurring motif in his work that addresses humanity's shared ethical burdens. For over two decades, he has depicted the "evolution of Western totalitarianism," critiquing shifts in political ideologies (e.g., the "Third Way" movements of the 1990s and 2000s under leaders like Clinton, Blair, and Schröder) and their role in fostering communitarianism and control over individual thought. He views his art and poetry as a "personal mission" against a society that polices consciences, where even nonconformity renders one suspect.

Jan Theuninck (born June 7, 1954, in Zonnebeke, West Flanders, Belgium) is a contemporary abstract painter and poet whose work deeply engages with themes of human conscience, historical trauma, and socio-political critique. His artistic practice blends minimalism and monochrome expressionism, often using acrylic on canvas to create stark, evocative compositions that provoke reflection on collective moral failures.