This year, the Vaisseau Mère non-profit organization is steering the traditional weekend of artistic discoveries, supported by the Municipality of Ixelles. The event invites the public to explore the city, from Boondael to Place de Luxembourg, by creating their own route to visit studios, performances, concerts, and exhibitions.
« We want to create an accessible and lively route », explains Louana Celeste, project coordinator. Various venues such as the Ixelles School of Arts, Rhizomes, Créahm, URsquare, KULT XL Ateliers, the Chapelle de Boondael, and ULB Culture are opening their doors, offering a unique opportunity to discover the artists' creative environments.
The trail features a diversity of disciplines: painting, photography, sculpture, illustration, installation, ceramics, textiles, dance, music, and performances. Emerging and established artists, classic and experimental practices are all present for an "à la carte" experience.
The « Côté fenêtre » initiative, proposed by artist Lucie Sans Peur, invites residents to host artworks behind their windows, turning homes into small galleries visible from the street. « This project perfectly matches the spirit of this edition: taking art out of its usual spaces, putting it directly into the city, and creating encounters between artists and residents », emphasizes the organizing team.
The KULT XL Workshops, Ixelles' Culture Service, are also opening their doors across four locations (21a rue Wiertz, 44 rue de l’Automne, 179 avenue du Bois de la Cambre, and 95 rue du Trône). Eleven artists will showcase their practices, ranging from textiles to coding.
Among the specific events, Romane Iskaria's Photo-talk (November 7 and 8, 95 rue du Trône) will explore memory and transmission through images. The exhibition Alluvions at KULT XL Expo (Rue Wiertz 23) will bring together works by Esther Babulik, Aurore Scotet, Jeanne Pruvot Simonneaux, and Léa Brami, focusing on themes of grief.
At the Chapelle de Boondael, the exhibition L’image élargie will feature the work of eight artists from UR Square's workshops, pushing the boundaries of photography. Guided tours will be offered in French, Dutch, and English on November 7 and 8.
