Frank Uytterhaegen's Biography

 

A Biography doesn't really work for someone like Frank. He was larger than life.

A biography may simply tell you that he was born in a small village in Belgium, on January 9, 1954. But that would be leaving out the precious details.

Frank was born to hard working, no-nonsense proud but loving parents. He was the youngest of four, and because he was six years younger than his three older sisters, he was indulged and adored and no doubt developed that solid feeling of self esteem which would always remain his.

A biography would probably not mention that he developed his epicurean tastes, his craving for good food from a mother who would lovingly force-feed her offspring and guests.

Nor would you learn that he and his siblings were raised with the fundamental notion that idleness is not an option.

His most crucial years, from 11 to 17 were spent in a Catholic boarding school. Although never subjected to it, he witnessed moral as well as physical abuse of students by their caretakers. Frank often said that it was the kind place that would either ‘make’ you or break you. Clearly, it didn’t break him.

Just as it isn’t possible to put a date on his great curiosity or on his eagerness to be involved in anything that would make his world a better place. It’s not possible to put a date on his ambition to strive to always think ‘out of the box’, or to date his openness, frankness, humor or loyalty.

He loved to think of his years in University, at Ghent, from 1971 to 1976, as very fulfilling ones. He considered them intellectually intense and challenging. He became interested in politics and socially engaged.

In Ghent he studied history and philosophy and classical Chinese on the side. Frank often said that it was not knowledge he acquired there, but rather the capacity of coming up with the right question and the ability to start thinking. It was an era of sexual liberation, and being inquisitive, he didn’t miss out on that either. It would still bring twinkles to his eyes 30 years later.

He worked as a researcher at the University of Ghent from 1977 till 1982. And here again a biography won’t tell you how Frank’s mind was ‘wired’ in a very efficient way, allowing him to link people events and situations. Allowing him to be above problems and to be one of those people who can really make things happen.

He worked as an assistant professor in Political Sciences in Ghent University from 1982 till 1985. It was his interest in China that brought him on his first visit in 1979

By 1984 he was back in China as a guest teacher and decided that China was where he wanted to be.

We ran into each other in Beijing in 1985 and we kept walking together for the next 26 years.

He started a company in 1985, working relentlessly in the newly opening, but very difficult to work in China of the mid ‘80s, exploring several fields; special vehicles, chemicals and others.

In 1987, he joined IBA, a high tech company that searched for, and providing solutions in the fields of health and well-being: systems to treat cancer. Typical of Frank and true to his nature, he made things happen and the business was successful.

Frank was very proud to inaugurate the first IBA production plant in Beijing.

The Beijing of the mid-eighties had an atmosphere of promise,

opening up and renewal to it. Frank eagerly leaped in.

He applied his customary enthusiasm and zeal to roaming small antique markets and art exhibitions and to any event that would trigger his interest.

China started to change and the artists here gained some recognition. Frank was there, in the middle of it, vibrant with energy and instrumental in its development.

He met Hans Van Dijk, he met Ai Weiwei and the synergy of three great people led to the establishment of China Art Archives and Warehouse in 1998. CAAW soon became the gathering place of essence for artists.

In 2000, Frank and I established the Modern Chinese Art Foundation with which we intended to further introduce modern Chinese art to the public.

Frank passed away on December 27, 2011. He had put up a fierce struggle, and even though the battle was truly uneven, he never once lost his moral strength.

In his wonderful and devoted life Frank has touched and changed many lives.

Not in the least the lives of myself and of our two children, Carl-Willem and Aiko, two superb young people who have, true to their father, chosen paths that will open grand new horizons for them.

Pascale, December 29, 2011.