In the summer of 2023, two artists will start working in the participating neighbourhoods of the oPEN Lab project in Genk. The artists work at LUCA School of Arts, a local art university college (situated at C-mine, one of the old mining sites in Genk). Photographer Kristof Vrancken and graphic designer Niek Kosten are artists, teachers and researchers at LUCA School of Arts. They each have more than ten years of experience with social-artistic projects through their artistic practice, research work, and teaching. In their work, the themes of sustainability, participation and Genk as a context are central.
Niek Kosten & Kristof Vrancken (Not In My Backyard! project on Japanese knotweed).
In Nieuw-Texas and Waterschei, the artists will collaborate with the partners of Living Lab Genk on an artistic, participatory project called ‘Transisthor’. This project aims to educate, sensitize, activate and create public awareness of green, sustainable energy. For their project, the artists plan to create large murals for and with the neighbourhood. However, these will not just be murals. Instead, the artists will work on artworks printed on solar panels that will generate sustainable energy for the neighbourhood. Tenants, homeowners and residents of Waterschei and Nieuw-Texas will be closely involved for about a year (summer 2023 to summer 2024).
Be sure to keep an eye on the oPEN Lab newsletters and website for more news on this interesting artistic and participatory project!
