Episode 5: The philosopher, social housing and public space

04/12/23 • 43 min

Today we are going to the outskirts of Antwerp where we explore the integration of art in social housing and public spaces, drawing inspiration from the works of architect Renaat Braem's units at Kiel. These high-rise blocks were built between 1949-1958 in Kiel. It was Braem’s first project where he integrated painting, murals, and sculpture, and shows the importance of the synthesis of the arts.

Philosopher and art historian Vlad Ionescu is here with us today and positions historical examples of art productions in public space to contemporary practice. He helps us define the matter of ‘public space’ as one of confrontation and compromise. He highlights challenges and risks of arts in this context, with indifference, in particular, to be considered as the ‘death of publicness’. When speaking about this topic we mostly focused on architecture or sculptures, but could engagement itself be a meaningful artistic alternative?

We also talk about the role of community engagement in art and the ethical questions it raises. We discuss the tension between creating art for the sake of the community versus creating art for its own sake and the problems that arise when artists are expected to also function as social workers. They also touch upon the role of ideology in the art world and the impact it has on community-based projects.

Concept, realisation and editing: Angelique Campens
Coaching & sound: Raf Enckels (Herculeslab)
Soundwork & mixing: Melissa Ryke
Opening and closing theme Glenn Miller "String of pearls"
Visuals: design by Veronika Akopyan and photography by Michiel Devijver
Production: Angelique Campens
Text assistance: Zoë Brennan, Davide Musco
Project participants: Veronika Akopyan, Zoë Brennan, Luna Van Bellingen, Menno Eggink, Milan George, Davide Musco, Jose Zapata Usma, Aagje Vandriessche, Baue Vercammen, Delphine Vo and Hilke Walraven
Coproduction: Nomadic School of Arts
With the support of: KASK School of Arts, Europe NextGenerationEU, Nomadic School of Arts

Previous Episode

Episode 3: The designer and the highway

Today, we have the pleasure of discussing the power of art and design with graphic designer and researcher Annelies Vaneycken at our third Think Tank session. Here we are focusing on art along the highway. We explore how graphic design can be used to create a more democratic environment in public spaces. We are in Aalbeke to discuss Jacques Moeschal’s monumental sculptures, known as "signals," which mark the motorways; and are a great example of democratic art.
Standing next to the Sjouwer ( translated as the porter) with Annelies, this monumental sculpture, is 35m made of reinforced concrete situated on a hill in the Belgian village of Aalbeke, along the French border. It serves as a tribute to the seasonal workers from West Flanders who crossed into France for work between 1930 and 1960, with the highest peak of the sculpture pointing symbolically towards French territory.

Concept, realisation and editing: Angelique Campens
Coaching & sound: Raf Enckels (Herculeslab)
Soundwork & mixing: Melissa Ryke
Opening and closing theme Glenn Miller "String of pearls"
Visuals: design by Veronika Akopyan and photography by Michiel Devijver
Project participants: Veronika Akopyan, Zoë Brennan, Luna Van Bellingen, Menno Eggink, Milan George, Davide Musco, Jose Zapata Usma, Aagje Vandriessche, Baue Vercammen, Delphine Vo and Hilke Walraven
Production: Angelique Campens
Coproduction: Nomadic School of Arts
With the support of: KASK School of Arts, Europe NextGenerationEU, Nomadic School of Arts

Next Episode

Episode 6: The sociologist, social housing and public space

We start to become familiar with this place as we go again to the outskirts of Antwerp and we explore the integration of art in social housing and public spaces, drawing inspiration from the works of architect Renaat Braem's units at Kiel. These high-rise blocks were built between 1949-1958 in Kiel. It was Braem’s first project where he integrated painting, murals, and sculpture, and shows the importance of the synthesis of the arts.

Once again, we are at the community centre ‘Nova’, encountering the kindness of its volunteers and residents. After a chat with some of them, we meet our final guest: professor Pascal Gielen, a well-known figure in this field, who works extensively on networks, community arts, commoning, and arts in public space. As we touch upon many different topics, talking with Pascal feels like a trip in itself: we don’t focus specifically on arts in public space, but rather on the broader sense of arts for the community. Pascal shows us that culture has a measurable impact on people’s health, social cohesion, cognition, and the economy, among other things. It supports people in meaning-making and building a shared, symbolic common ground.

But it can also disrupt the ground under someone’s feet, unexpectedly changing one’s personal life and perception. Perhaps we are already unconsciously aware of that, but this information makes us look at the artist’ profession in another light - one of choice, responsibility, and politics, ultimately. If we need a sensory common ground for a political community, then let the artists shape our spaces!
Concept, realisation and editing: Angelique Campens
Coaching & sound: Raf Enckels (Herculeslab)
Soundwork & mixing: Melissa Ryke
Opening and closing theme Glenn Miller "String of pearls"
Visuals: design by Veronika Akopyan and photography by Michiel Devijver
Production: Angelique Campens
Text assistance: Zoë Brennan, Davide Musco
Project participants: Veronika Akopyan, Zoë Brennan, Luna Van Bellingen, Menno Eggink, Milan George, Davide Musco, Jose Zapata Usma, Aagje Vandriessche, Baue Vercammen, Delphine Vo and Hilke Walraven
Coproduction: Nomadic School of Arts
With the support of: KASK School of Arts, Europe NextGenerationEU, Nomadic School of Arts