Time is ticking on and things are hotting up in preparation for the launch of Coup de Ville on 8th September (VIP launch…official public launch on 9th Sept.). I visited Sint-Niklaas again this July during which time I discussed the timings and logistics of installation of the work. It was suggest I return in mid-august to install the work so that it is ready for press reviews ahead of the launch in September.
As always, my visit was met with the most amazing hospitality. I met Simon Vega, another exhibiting artist from El Salvador http://simon-vega.blogspot.co.uk/
Simon was already creating, on site, the work he will present for Coup de Ville. “Simón Vega creates drawings, ephemeral sculptures and installations inspired in the informal, self made architecture and vendor carts found in the streets and marginal zones of El Salvador and Central America. These works, assembled with wood, cardboard, plastic and found materials often parody famous Modernist and mythological buildings and cities, surveillance systems as well as high-tech robots and satellites developed by NASA and the Soviet Space Program during the Cold War, creating an ironic and humorous fusion between first and third world, while commenting on the effects of that conflict in today’s Central America.” (http://www.fountainheadresidency.com/simon-vega/)
His work is inspiring and I am already starting to see very interesting themes which some of the artists share.
The content of the catalogue is being collated and and will be printed soon. It was imperative for me that I had some finshed work with some high quality photographs to include and luckily I was able to deliver on this. I liaised through email and conversation with Kristof Reulens, Director of the Emile van Doren Museum in Genk who will write a text about my work in the catalogue. I met Kristof while I was artist in residence at FLACC Workplace for visual artists in Genk in 2014 http://www.flacc.info/en/projecten/2014/206
He first came in contact with my work at the WARP artists village, which is also where I first met the Curator of Coup de Ville, Stef Van Bellingen. He and Eddie Guidolph, director of CMine Cultural Centre subsequently invited me to exhibit in the amazing gallery space at CMine Cultural Centre (a former coalmining site) in 2014. I am delgithed that Kristof now has this opportunity to respond to my new work which, although still continues with themes of redundancy of cutlural phenomena, but is within a completely new time and context.
I look forward to reading this when it is published.
The Landhuis, where I will be exhibiting was well under way in terms of its temporary makeover. All exhibition sites for Coup de Ville are located around the city. They are existing shopfronts, businesses, galleries, museums and in the case of the Landhuis, listed/protected buildings which are none-the-less unoccupied and falling in to disrepair. It is so exciting to see these spaces becoming gradually replensihed, ready to play host to the work which will be on display within them.
The flyer promoting the event is complete and already in circulation. 35 artists from around the world are taking part this year. All of the artists are listed in it below.
My next visit to Sint-Niklaas will be in August to install the work in the space. Here’s a sneak preview of some of the finished work.
Save
