The exhibition project Middle Gate II – The Story of Dymphna is a collaboration between M HKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp) and the cultural centre de Werft in Geel. Middle Gate II is the follow up to the exhibition Middle Gate, curated by Jan Hoet in Geel in 2013. The exhibition concept is closely tied to the legend of the holy Dymphna, saint of the possessed, the mentally ill and patroness against epilepsy and insanity. The legend of Dymphna shares a strong connection to the identity of Geel, "the charitable city".

Jan Cox

(c)image: M HKA
Verhuizing ’s avonds (Brussel), 1952
Print , 410 x 625 mm
lithograph on paper

Cox started experimenting with the making of multi-colored prints on his own litho press at the beginning of the 1950's.  Dissatisfied with the results so obtained, in 1952 he travels to Paris to work with the famous Moulot printing atelier.  Here Cox could take advantage of ideal printing conditions and expertise, as had artists like Villon, Chagall and Giacometti, and he produced fine color lithographs without being overly encumbered by technical details.  Some splendid works were achieved there, like the calligraphic Verhuizing ’s avonds (Evening Removals).  In 1953 Cox shows a selection of his lithographic work in Amsterdam.  Later the exhibition would travel to Indonesia, and a catalogue of Cox's graphic work is published with a text by J.H.W. Veenstra to accompany it.