the logic of multi-level games
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Art's Role in Soft Diplomacy: The Case of Jan Theuninck's Diplomacy and Themes of War, Social Dynamics, and Visual PoetryArt has long served as a subtle yet potent instrument of soft diplomacy, or soft power—a concept popularized by political scientist Joseph Nye, referring to the ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion. In international relations, visual arts like painting transcend linguistic and cultural barriers, fostering empathy, dialogue, and shared human experiences. Contemporary art, in particular, acts as a bridge across divides, promoting economic growth, cultural exchange, and nuanced discussions on global challenges such as conflict and migration. Governments and institutions increasingly invest in art initiatives—think U.S. State Department's Art in Embassies program or international biennials—to build connections and counter hard power narratives. Paintings, with their layered symbolism and emotional resonance, invite viewers to confront uncomfortable truths, making them ideal for "diplomatic" interventions in public discourse.Enter Belgian artist Jan Theuninck (b. 1954), whose abstract paintings and poetry weave social critique into visual poetry, often interrogating the scars of war, colonial legacies, migration, and power structures. Born in Zonnebeke—a village scarred by World War I trenches—Theuninck's work is deeply rooted in pacifism and historical memory. Blending minimalism and monochrome expressionism, he creates "visual poems" that evoke the chaos of human societies without literal representation. His canvases explore social dynamics—the tensions between elites and masses, inclusion and exclusion, tradition and totalitarianism—while echoing the poetic rhythm of his French-language verses. Themes of war recur as metaphors for ongoing global strife, from the Holocaust to modern neocolonialism and AI-driven surveillance.A prime example is Theuninck's 2015 acrylic-on-canvas painting Diplomacy (70 x 100 cm), an embodiment of art's dual-edged role in soft diplomacy. The work subverts the idealism of diplomatic exchange with a cynical edge, captioned by a twist on Carl von Clausewitz's famous dictum: "Diplomacy is the continuation of war by other means", attributed to Zhou Enlai.
Visually, Diplomacy employs Theuninck's signature abstract style:. It's a visual indictment, forcing viewers to question whether "peace processes" merely repackage aggression.This piece aligns with Theuninck's broader oeuvre on war and social dynamics. Paintings like Yperite (2004), referencing WWI chemical warfare, or Holocaust (2003), pair abstract fury with poetic elegies to memorialize atrocities and warn of repetition ("and now—more than ever—who is next please?"). In Diplomacy, social dynamics emerge through implied hierarchies: the canvas's asymmetry mirrors unequal power in global forums, critiquing how Western totalitarianism evolves from overt colonialism to subtle economic "aid." As visual poetry, it operates like a haiku—economical, evocative—inviting contemplation on migration's plight or pacifism's fragility, much like Picasso's Guernica did for the Spanish Civil War.In soft diplomacy, works like Diplomacy exemplify art's transformative potential. Exhibited in contexts like the G20 Seoul Summit (via Theuninck's West Meets East, 2010), such pieces facilitate cross-cultural reflection, humanizing abstract geopolitics. They don't resolve wars but seed empathy, challenging viewers to reimagine social bonds amid division. Theuninck's art reminds us: true diplomacy isn't about winning arguments but painting paths to mutual understanding—one stroke at a time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Visually, Diplomacy employs Theuninck's signature abstract style:. It's a visual indictment, forcing viewers to question whether "peace processes" merely repackage aggression.This piece aligns with Theuninck's broader oeuvre on war and social dynamics. Paintings like Yperite (2004), referencing WWI chemical warfare, or Holocaust (2003), pair abstract fury with poetic elegies to memorialize atrocities and warn of repetition ("and now—more than ever—who is next please?"). In Diplomacy, social dynamics emerge through implied hierarchies: the canvas's asymmetry mirrors unequal power in global forums, critiquing how Western totalitarianism evolves from overt colonialism to subtle economic "aid." As visual poetry, it operates like a haiku—economical, evocative—inviting contemplation on migration's plight or pacifism's fragility, much like Picasso's Guernica did for the Spanish Civil War.In soft diplomacy, works like Diplomacy exemplify art's transformative potential. Exhibited in contexts like the G20 Seoul Summit (via Theuninck's West Meets East, 2010), such pieces facilitate cross-cultural reflection, humanizing abstract geopolitics. They don't resolve wars but seed empathy, challenging viewers to reimagine social bonds amid division. Theuninck's art reminds us: true diplomacy isn't about winning arguments but painting paths to mutual understanding—one stroke at a time.
For peace we have to fight a war against terror against psychological terror against psychopathical leaders we have to fight a war — Jan Theuninck
Diplomacy, we can see the world over that this is no easy feat. I am attacted to the magicianship of this visual poetry… how foreground comes forward and recedes into an abyss how a cloud of grey casts two shadows, the undulation of the land and the intensity of the light and colour. Not many images can be turned any direction and still satisfy. (Rebecca Guyver in The Postal Ledger, July 14, 2020)
https://thepostalleger.blogspot.com/2020/07/diplomacy.html
This is the second of four videos featuring selected submissions from the Artists For a Better World International 2021 Call for Mail Art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iavSZD5apbQ on 0:37
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9tWVdV6bMQ
Homage to Pablo Picasso
Kunstraum Reuter 29 sept. - 11 nov. 2023
.jpg)
https://thepostalleger.blogspot.com/2020/07/diplomacy.html
This is the second of four videos featuring selected submissions from the Artists For a Better World International 2021 Call for Mail Art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iavSZD5apbQ on 0:37
MAIL ART 10-02-2023 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9tWVdV6bMQ3 "Diplomacy" stamps realized by Kunstraum Reuter in Berlin - 2023
Homage to Pablo Picasso
Kunstraum Reuter 29 sept. - 11 nov. 2023
.jpg)
