This fall, Leuven's city festival is all about Dieric Bouts: this 15th-century painter is being highlighted all over the city. All the initiatives are being bundled under the title New Horizons. Leuven gave young artists and organizations the chance to explore Bouts from ever-changing perspectives and thus inspire new creators.
The young curators of Curating the Young are also exploring new horizons. As part of the New Horizons Fringe program, they developed an open-air exhibition with young artists around the Vaartkom in Leuven and used the ErfgoedApp bring their artworks to life. Out & aBouts was born.
Who is Curating the Young?
Curating the Young (CTY) is a collective of young curators (aged 16 to 30) who develop various projects in different cities each year. Under the guidance of AmuseeVous, they demand space for young artists and art lovers, because the idea that young people are not interested in art and culture is a big myth. Mastiek supports them in the area of public outreach. OPEK is their base in Leuven, so the Vaartkom was the obvious choice. Participation and local collaboration are central to CTY; Casco, a Leuven residence for artists, was also a stop on the route.
But how do you create a contemporary exhibition that pays tribute to an old Flemish master such as Dieric Bouts?
Felien Vandermotten (24), curator at CTY: "We started this project by looking at which aspects or themes of Bouts' work could be interesting in a contemporary context. Among other things, we cited his innovative use of perspective, depiction of everyday objects, and subdued emotional facial expressions as important starting points.
We then sent out an open call and selected young artists with these themes in mind. Giving opportunities to young artists and helping them grow is in CTY's DNA. We felt it was very important that the selected works for this exhibition reflected a link with Bouts. We selected five very diverse works for this exhibition, and I am very pleased that they show that, five centuries after his death, Bouts can still offer such diverse inspiration to his contemporary 'successors'.
What are your experiences with the ErfgoedApp?
Felien: "We were given the opportunity to ErfgoedApp with the ErfgoedApp to broaden the public outreach of this open-air exhibition. Some of us took a course at FARO on how to use the app. We passed on that knowledge in an internal training session, where we brainstormed with the artists about how we wanted to use the app to make their work accessible.
The day before an exhibition opens is always a little stressful. The last loose ends are tied up, and the final touches are added to the setup. That's why we were very happy that FARO approved our ErfgoedApp quickly, so that visitors could use it immediately by scanning the QR codes next to the works.
Because everything has been designed in collaboration with young curators and artists, the app offers a different experience for each work of art. For example, in the case of Pina Geyskens' work, the app shows you, among other things, the creative process behind her screen prints and a poem by Pina with the same theme as the work on display.
With other artworks, the scratch function allows you to see the artist's inspiration or reveals a second artwork. Thanks to the app, Nel Maertens' Billboard reveals a 15th-century work by Bouts; the table from The Last Supper reveals a last supper from 2023, developed by Beppe Geerts. The ErfgoedApp was used ErfgoedApp an audio guide for Ynne De Wever's flags. You can hear interviews in which the residents of the adjacent service flats explain what makes this object 'divine' to them.
Artworks by: Beppe Geerts, Ynne De Wever, Pina Geyskens, and Nel Maertens © Noé Lagaert
Felien: "Using the app makes the exhibition more dynamic, but for those who would like even more interaction or don't want to take the walk alone, we also offer guided tours. I am very happy with the way the exhibition has taken shape and how it has been received. It pays to try ErfgoedApp new things like the ErfgoedApp !"
Out & aBouts has been extended and will continue until January 9 around the Leuven Vaartkom.
Want to know more about CTY? Take a look at our website: https://www.curatingtheyoung.be/
Find the route until January 9, 2024, at: https://erfgoed.app/tour/2146
