Ephemeral Practices: Rethinking Public Art Beyond the Object
Platform Kunst in Opdracht, NICC and NW Aalst launch a public forum centered around ephemeral practices in public space.
Stories, performances, walks, happenings, protests, cooking workshops, … since 2019, the new Decree ‘Kunst in Opdracht’ (Art by Commission) allows for ephemeral art commissions within its framework. Artists and commissioners alike can now experiment with intangible, temporal forms of art commissions. Now, six years later, we come together to reflect on the possibilities, opportunities and challenges of ephemeral arts.
On Thursday, 20 March, the forum will bring together a diverse group of artists, activists, scholars, thinkers, cultural workers, policymakers and commissioners to delve into these topics and foster meaningful dialogue.
- What value or insights can be provided through site-specific ephemeral works?
- How can ephemeral practices contribute to the redefinition and reclamation of public spaces?
- How do we archive or document ephemeral practices meaningfully while respecting their impermanent nature?
- What role do policymakers, commissioners, and cultural institutions play in supporting ephemeral practices?
- Can ephemeral art act as a form of activism or resistance in contested public spaces?
Departing from various artistic practices, such as Vermeir & Heiremans, they hope to unfold these questions through interactive walks, artists presentations, discussion tables and more.
To top it all off, NW Aalst hosts a nocturnal opening with their current exhibitions on display, and a discussion and film program of Indonesian film collective Forum Lenteng reflecting on the topic in their own way.
With: Vermeir & Heiremans, Jubilee Platform for artistic research, Forum Lenteng, and more.
Facilitated by: Stad Aalst, Platform Kunst in Opdracht, NW Aalst & NICC
Language: ENG/NL
