Bouchon de Liège

Bouchon en liège …

It has been a while since we had a more extensive look at the artistic offerings in Liège – we used to go quite often, but of late it is usually in combination with pass-by itineraries... but always well worth it. Recently having visited the Espace 251 Nord since ever so long for an exhibition of Tatiana Bohm, which we have been following since Bukta-days – an extensive series in a suite called 'L'Or des Fous' and continuing her research into the abhorrent history of our wealth through mineral manipulation and scoring of surfaces we like to see as pristine – reflections, often double, of our own attitudes and complacency in the face of history and by inference to the situation as it is to be found today...

It was the first time since ages that we crossed the street to the 'new Space' where a group show included François Curlet whom we had shown in the late 20^th century- that long ago indeed! In fact this former garage was where I picked up a molten aluminium bar from a burnt-out Porsche that was standing in front of the gate – ages ago- during one of the 'quartier d'hiver' shows I participated in... so the theme of the luxury metal (in this case alloy wheels) connected the clockwork of brass artillery casings telling time across the street...

Sorry to say that Liège has also seen it necessary to refurbish it's city centre and make it a lot less attractive than it used to be: hardly accessible by car any more making it difficult to make quick stops for an occasional visitor – though probably better for the loitering shopper, which is the intention I presume... We were caught in the old frame of mind when we moseyed down to the Kennedy-Tower thinking we could easily move on from there – we were too early and didn't stay long (Mirror Mirror) but longer than anticipated because we were stuck in traffic... Bouchon de Liège – i had just read about it in Spoerri's (et al) 'Anecdoted Topgraphy of Chance' and so was well integrated in the notion of a “Tableau-Piège vivante”...

But even so, we came back for the official opening (this time leaving the car across the river) and took a look at the incredible monument on the hill overlooking the city - something we've been meaning to do for ever so long – the Sacre Coeur church and Inter-allied memorial, deco-style basilica with well proportioned tower next to it – combination of religious and secular symbolic architecture – alas completely dilapidated and vandalized – with a nice painterly intervention of gulls to give it some air of significance – since it seems the church has abandoned it and perhaps art is the only saviour – but where is the money to come from?

It is a theme also rendered by the 'Mirror mirror” show in the former public library of the town... one of those brutalist combo's of administration and living with great views of the river but not very well kept – leading the municipality to rather erect a new architectural fancy than to fix the old one – a malaise many towns have – in Liège they already destroyed an entire neighbourhood to plonk a megalomaniac Calatrava-station into the midst... a sorry affair. As was this Kennedy-Tower Cherroux affair – they were going to tear it down, but after protests the municipality decided to keep it but what now?

This show is a first step into investigation what might be: artist engaged to intervene in the existing space in a first public encounter hoping to further a trend to more interactive participation and create a viable cultural centre... something to think about and reflect upon – which in fact is exactly what Djos Janssens does with his reflective text piece (of which i am the proud owner of one) interspersed between the other (mainly photographic) work throughout the building... It is a major effort since the space is quite expansive, and luckily some participants decided to use remnants of the old library infrastructure to create a maze to amaze, with works hidden & popping up on you thater than just being presented as in a gallery show... so the whole thing becomes an agreeable food-for thought ambulation, and does not have to feel lesser than some well-established cultural hubs – even if on a shoestring... but maybe that's just the point: it does not have to be an expensive affair! Give art back to the people rather than investing in internationally renowned design-offices and speculative cultcompanies... let the artists decide... That is what is refreshing about Liège even if they make the usual blunders – there is still a vibrant artist community presenting alternative ideas – take the 'art-au-centre' series*..; something I enjoyed following over the years... and contrast it with the white elephant project in Brussels kanalPomp i- doo, transforming a once agreeable building into another posh-kosh temple devouring millions...

(*there will be a catalogue of the projects 2024-2026 shortly...)

We hope that a viable solution is found for this interesting site – but are conscious of the fact that times are hard all over... even so, this sort of thing does give a small gleam of hope...