Beaufort 2015
Beyond Borders
Contemporary Art by the Sea
June 21 – September 21, 2015
Curators: Lorenzo Benedetti (De Appel in Amsterdam), Patrick Ronse (Be-Part in Waregem), Hilde Teerlinck (freelance curator) and Phillip Van den Bossche (Mu.ZEE in Ostend).
The Province of West Flanders is the initiating party, and along with the Department of Culture has invited the ten coastal municipalities to support this innovative artistic concept and to help accomplish it.
Beyond Borders opts for a complete project along the coast, whereby a solo exhibition by the A Dog Republic collective led by 91-year-old architect, urbanist, and designer Yona Friedman is combined with a group exhibition at three locations in the province: the Zwin Nature centre along the east coast, Raversyde in the centre and visitor centre De Nachtegaal with the surrounding Oosthoek dunes along the west coast. The solo exhibition constitutes the artistic link between these three locations, in order to complete the continuity of Beyond Borders in content and presentation.
Beyond Borders takes place from 21 June until 21 September 2015, but has the ambition of going ‘beyond the borders’ of the exhibition itself, and of its temporary nature. By reflecting on art in the public space, by looking for new ideas on art and architecture, art and science, art and urbanization, ecology, sustainability, activism, education, … its aspiration is to have a long-term impact on society.
How do contemporary artists formulate new proposals within the walls of a museum, or an art exhibition? Following the example of “Sonsbeek buiten de perken” in 1971, the triennial wishes to chart the newest roads taken by artists, and look beyond the borders of the art world.
The curators make a conscious choice to include barely any seaside and beach locations or monumentality, but in this Beyond Borders edition of Beaufort respond to the demand for small scale and ‘public intimacy’ of art proposals – even though the scale may certainly still be large. The three locations where the group exhibitions will take place show strong connections with nature and are closely related to this approach.
Along with the artists and the exhibition visitors the triennial searches how ‘ideas gain traction’. Indeed, the exhibition will include not only works of art but will also bring lectures, small-scale concerts, performances, film screenings, workshops, a research residency on ‘Comfort & Resistance’… For this purpose it collaborates with various organizations, including Vrijstaat O., VUB Crosstalks, stroom Den Haag, Leffingeleuren, Theater aan Zee, CAHF (Contemporary Art Heritage Flanders), Be-Part, KASK Gent, Ons Erfdeel.
Image: Beaufort 2015 Curatorial Team. Couretsy Beaufort Triennale.