Bruges Triennial
How public art can help people encounter, learn, and heal
In an era when nothing seems certain, the 2018 Bruges Triennial unites fifteen artists and architects under the theme of ‘liquid city’, using water as a metaphor for flexibility and resiliency together. In the Belgian city where water traverses the landscape, pavilions and artistic happenings form an open inviting trail that brings people together in unexpected meeting places.
Spanish architectural firm selgascano erected an giant structure that provides a peaceful retreat on the water’s edge. Floating on the canal, the structure forms an organically-shaped habitat with hot pink and orange semi-translucent walls. The colors of the pavilion’s façade generate filtered views of the surrounding water, and offers a sunny and serene spot to stop and rest. The structure’s sinuous silhouette snakes across the water and sits on a floating platform that offers an ideal place for grown-ups and children to wade in or venture a splash in the water. The festival also showcases a floating classroom/exhibition place where schoolchildren can have classes and exhibit their work, as well as a veiled pergola at an almshouse, serving as a place of silence.
The theme of the festival embodies a trend in public art: using art as a means to generate encounters and challenge the public to not only view artwork, but also to experience it and immerse themselves in the creative process.
Sources: designboom (May 7, 2018) | Triennale Brugge 2018 | Image: Iwan Baan | Triennale Brugge