In 2015 Beaufort continues to build upon the triennial’s tradition of art in the public space at the Belgian coast, but also makes a firm choice for change and innovation.

By News Editor 22 Feb 2015

Fifth edition of Beaufort
Triennial of contemporary art by the sea

Beyond Borders

21 June–21 September 2015

New artistic concept and curatorial team: 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)

Participating artists (to date)
A Dog Republic, Marti Anson, Charif Benhelima, Otto Berchem, Marc Bijl, Katinka Bock, Kasper Bosmans, Thorsten Brinkmann, Mariana Castillo Deball, C L A I R E F O N T A I N E , Lucile Desamory, Liesbeth Doms, Matias Faldbakken, Thomas Galler, Pieterjan Ginckels, Pablo Helguera, Scott King, Gabriel Kuri, Mark Lombardi, Ingrid Luche, Mark Manders, Domenico Mangano, Teresa Margolles, Cildo Meireles, Moondog, Alessandro Pessoli, Falke Pisano, Julien Prévieux, Nicolas Provost, Walid Raad, Allan Sekula, Kelly Schacht, Thomas Schütte, Terry Smith, Superflex, Zhou Tao, Oscar Tuazon, Rinus Van de Velde, Lily van der Stokker, Mark Wallinger

Beyond Borders opts for a complete project along the coast, whereby a solo exhibition by the collective A Dog Republic, led by 91-year-old architect and urbanist Yona Friedman, is combined with a group exhibition at three venues: the Zwin nature centre in Knokke-Heist, Raversyde in Ostend and De Nachtegaal in De Panne. The substantive stories from more than 35 artists come together with the proposals of A Dog Republic at these three venues.

A Dog Republic
Musée Promenade from Yona Friedman
At the invitation of Beyond Borders, A Dog Republic will develop a major project titled Musée Promenade. Musée Promenade is the name of the in many ways enchanting project along the 67-kilometer coastline of Belgium. This “museum” is created while walking and takes various forms over time and depending on location. The project will include drawings in sand, shop windows and plexiglass boxes, as well as flags, posters and texts, films, architectural installations, pavilions…Musée Promenade will be a true spectacle in the streets, shops, buildings, ports, and on the beaches and promenades of the ten Belgian coastal municipalities. Most striking will be the various architectural prototypes in bamboo, plexiglass and steel, based on Yona Friedman’s ideas on “mobile architecture” and “self-planning.”

Beyond Borders takes place from 21 June until 21 September, but has the ambition to go “beyond the borders” of the exhibition itself and of its temporary nature. By reflecting on art in the public space and by looking for new ideas on art and architecture, art and science, art and urbanization, ecology, sustainability, activism, education…it has the aspiration to have a long-term impact on our society.

The curators make a conscious choice by including barely any seaside and beach locations or any monumental works. Beyond Borders aims to respond to the demand for small-scale works and the “public intimacy” of art proposals—even though the scale may certainly still be monumental. The three venues where the group exhibition will take place show strong connections with nature and are closely related to this approach.

Together with the artists and the visitors we look at how “ideas can make school.” Therefore the exhibition will not only bring artworks but also lectures, small concerts, performances, film screenings, workshops, a research residency on “Comfort & Resistance”…Herefore we work with various organisations, including Vrijstaat O., VUB Crosstalks, Stroom Den Haag, music festival Leffingeleuren, theatre and music festival Theater aan Zee, CAHF (Contemporary Art Heritage Flanders), Be-Part, KASK Ghent, Ons Erfdeel, ….

Project team: Anne Mouton, Laure-Anne Tillieux and Els Wuyts