For Expanded-Scapes (Leopoldskazerne, Ghent, 2009), I have shown recent works on generic spaces. Using maps and construction sites as underlying ground-works of the generic template, I create improbable spaces where imaginary/virtual flows (traffic, circulation, communication, economic exchanges) are the only inhabitants.

More pictures from Expanded-Scapes here!
More from Generic there!

2009: my first Transmediale ever!
Topic: Deep North.

Mmmmh, was not sure about the trendy title but finally there is much more in this that I thought! Not the best exhibition display but some good works and very good debates. I never thought that a media art festival (usually used to be self-centered) could bring so much political, social and ecological engagement.

I will not reveal yet what exact direction it will make me take (but I can already say that I’m quite busy researching on generic architecture and activism in urban environment). However, I can already point at projects I saw there and that I really want to share (of course some received an award).

Michiko Nitta: Extreme Green Guerillas
This design project takes current green trends to the extreme. By proposing a community of people called “Extreme Green Guerillas” (E.G.G.), Michiko gives “a critical point of view on the current general green visions, because many green activities are used as a medium of consumerism.”

Therefore, she proposes extreme green solutions for sending messages (no emails, mobile phones or postal ways are allowed), eating (no CO2 footprints) and overpopulation (death at 40 years old).

Don’t forget: WE MUST NOT CONSUME WE MUST BE CONSUMED

Reynold Reynolds: Six apartment
This video project presents a view of six persons isolated in their own apartment with their own loneliness. A voice over of radio news talking about diseases and consequences of climate change is the only contact with the outside world, while these persons stand still in their own drift.

It makes of course echoes to our inability to act and our isolated lives in urban environment which (will) constitutes over to 80% of human environment.

Besides these projects, there is of course a lot more.. Just to give some names: HeHe with “Nuage Vert“, the “Tantalum Memorial” dedicated to the deaths caused by the Coltan war,…

Luckily, besides these serious issues, there was Club Transmediale! And the ArtKillArt party, and … well, welcome to the never ending festival!

Juan, Hallveig and I are participating at the Panoramatic group exhibition at Espace Ladda, Ghent. There will be up to 89 artists with commissioned works (panels in fact) which will hanged in a kind of panoramic way.

Opening on Friday 13 FEB 2009 at Espace Ladda, the temporary gallery next to Vooruit in Ghent!

From this Monday 5th of January until 27th February 09, some paintings of the anywhere reloaded project are exhibited in Nucleo’s office in Ghent. You can visit it during working hours from Monday till Friday.

Nucleo develops affordable, good quality studios in the city of Ghent and its surroundings for artists active in various art disciplines. I could rent a temporary studio from them this year, located in the beautiful Leopold Caserne.

contact: info@nucleo.be

Adress: Nucleo vzw
Lange Violettestraat 237-239
9000 Ghent, Belgium

photos: Kristina Ianatchkova

My last project anywhere reloaded (still work in progress) will be presented in our brand new studio in Ghent!

Since September I share a new studio space at the Leopoldskazerne (thanks to Nucleo vzw) with Juan Duque, ex-transmedia collegue, architect and urban designer, researching on landscape and digital alteration of the image.

We will present mostly work in progress of our urban explorations (paintings, drawings, installation, video works).

So see you on Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th of Octobre, Lepoldskazerne, 2nd floor, Kattenberg 4, 9000 Gent!