Flanders sets its sights on contemporary art: three open-air festivals from May

Flanders is banking on a summer of contemporary art and starting in May 2021 will host three international open-air festivals: the Bruges Triennial, Beaufort 21, and Paradise.

Every three years, Bruges holds a unique event that brings contemporary art and architecture to the historic city center, and this the Bruges Triennial takes place from May 8 to October 24, 2021. On this occasion thirteen contemporary artists present to the public their new installations inspired by the theme TraumA, or the thin line between dream and nightmare, heaven and hell, visible and hidden. The event appeals to the imagination, but also to the history and more mysterious aspects of the city. All corners of Bruges can become inspiration for artists. Themes of poverty, loneliness, pollution and fear are reflected in sculptural and architectural works.

Wander through the labyrinth that Gijs Van Vaerenbergh has created in Baron Ruzettepark, be taken in by the folkloric atmospheres of Nadia Naveau’s water-side installations, be amazed by the time mechanism that seems suspended in St. Walpurga’s church. The works of these contemporary Flemish masters dialogue with some of the most significant names on the international contemporary art scene.

The Bruges Triennial is a free festival, organized by Brugge Plus, Musea Brugge, Kenniscentrum vzw and Cultuurcentrum Brugge in collaboration with the City of Bruges. Curators are Till-Holger Borchert, Santiago De Waele, Michel Dewilde and Els Wuyts.

For more information about the Bruges Triennial: triennalebrugge.be

From May 27 to November 7, 2021, its Triennial takes place along the Beaufort coast. Works inspired by the sea are placed on beaches, in dunes, along dykes. For the seventh edition of the Beaufort Triennial, curator Heidi Ballet has selected twenty-one international contemporary artists including two Italians (Rossella Biscotti and Rosa Barba) who will exhibit their works.

Central themes will be the subjection of man to the will of nature, the impermanence of man and matter; the works are inspired by local tales and the history of humanity and nature.

New for the 2021 edition is the coast-wide project: a musical creation by American Ari Benjamin Meyers that will be performed in each of the participating coastal cities.

The event began in 2003 and aims to create a permanent sculpture park, the Beaufort Sculpture Park, in which thirty works from previous editions have already been placed. A selection of works created for Triennial Beaufort 2021 will be added to the permanent park. The entire stretch of the Flemish coastline will be able to be traversed by a coastal streetcar.
Beaufort 21 is a free contemporary art festival organized by the Province of West Flanders and Westtoer.

For more information on Beaufort’s permanent sculpture park www.beaufortbeeldenpark.be

Finally, from June 26 to October 24, 2021, the international contemporary art festival Paradise will be held on the streets of Kortrijk, in southern West Flanders and among the UNESCO Creative Cities.

The latter invites national and international contemporary artists to reflect on current issues through new installations and artworks. How do these artists see and interpret the utopian dream of paradise? How would they like to improve our society and our world?

Paradise Kortrijk is a dynamic and free contemporary arts festival organized by the City of Kortrijk, Belgium and Be-Part. Curated by Hilde Teerlinck and Patrick Ronse, it aims to reach a wide audience, including young children.

Read more at paradisekortrijk.be

Image: Jan Fabre, Op Zoek Naar Utopia ©Westtoer

Flanders sets its sights on contemporary art: three open-air festivals from May

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