Reopening Boxes – Take One

Following its objective of boosting cultural exchanges, Open Earth Foundation, organised during this summer at LaVallée, the Residence Program ‘REOPENING BOXES’. It was a challenge, since the severity of Covid-19 had imposed several restrictions to mobility. Nevertheless, there were dozens of applicants. Art needs to breath, art needs space and visibility. Stephan Balleux, Belgian visual artist and teacher at the Royal Academy of the Arts of Brussels leaded a pluri-disciplinary team to screen applications and choose the beneficiaries and now curates the exhibition.

“The first residents who exhibit in this opus of “REOPENING BOXES – Take 1” were those able to make themselves available out of confinement in Belgium, and yet these artists have one thing in common: they have an artistic practice which help us to look at the world with other codes, with other conceptual tools and especially from another position,” states Balleux. Reopening Boxes!’ residency was developed together with LaVallée and The Gabarron Foundation and counted with the collaboration of The Spanish Embassy in Brussels, The Instituto Cervantes, Martin’s Atelier & The International Yehudi Menuhim Foundation Since the Covid situation is expected to improve, the selected artists will have the possibility of exhibiting their work in 2021 in Spain hosted by The Gabarron Foundation.

« REOPENING BOXES: TAKE 1 » THE EXHIBITION

Open Earth Foundation and La Vallée are happy to announce the opening of the exhibition of the final artistic work of the four artists selected: Saddie Choua, Bertrand Jeannelle, Stefano Moras, and Thy Nguyên Truong Minh. Each of them brings their own special focus to the work in artist residency. However, their creations and interaction are also proof that creativity goes very well with conviviality and good humor. The exhibit will last till October 11st.

« REOPENING BOXES: TAKE 1 » TALKING WITH THE ARTISTS

Before the Opening of the exhibit, OEF and LaVallée will organise a short debate focused on the future of the creative sector. Artists, associations, and institutions will converse with the public about the difficulties that creators have experienced during the confinement, the role that culture plays to help us through the crisis, and how best to confront the uncertainty and shape the future.

SPEAKERS: 1.Claire Ducène, member of the FAP – Federation des Arts Plastiques; 2.Pedro Velázquez, Deputy Chief of Division Creative Europe; 3.Gerardo Salinas, Theatre Director and programmer at KVS Theatre (TBC) MODERATORS: 1.Stephan Balleux, curator of the residence program and exhibition 2.Angel Carro, Founder of Open Earth Foundation