PHILEMON & BAUCIS
social art design
From Ovid's Metamorphoses:
The story of Philemon and Baucis is about an old couple in Tyrana
that offers hospitality to Zeus and Hermes, pretending to be strangers,
and in gratitude for their reception, they are turned by the gods into an oak and a linden.
This mythical story about PHILEMON & BAUCIS is the starting point. The story with themes such as constant love, hospitality and transformation still appeals to the imagination and reminds us of the lasting power of kindness and love in a complex world.
As part of her research to the Art of Asking Questions, this social-artistic design, Sigrid Keunen reduces these topics of giving, taking and being to thorough thinking with your heart. From there she asks visual questions such as: “How high can you jump with your eyes?”, “If hospitality were like a bowl of soup, how hot would you like it?” to 18 participants from the city. And whether they are young or retired or gender fluid or of any origin, they participate in a course as individuals. They are 3 consecutive conversations about perception, catharsis and affect, which culminate in an exhibition around their stories, contained in a literary text and photos of their hands (both created by Sigrid).
The exhibition space also contains the abstracted model of the city center of Brussels (creation by Filip Keunen) from which the voices of the participants from the 1st conversation can be heard. The vernissage is in collaboration with DJ, musician & performer Rodolphe Coster on February 20.
PHILEMON & BAUCIS also gives way to the SUDDER moment or a public, artistic argument. In addition to the improvisation concert, there will be a debate with 4 guests, each with their own link with the city, about asking questions in a world that attaches more importance to answers. So, the question arises: Are we puppets in or of this society? How much of a mannequin are we to ourselves? What if a mannequin moves away from the neutral facial expression?
And then there are the white flags, from the outside in, for the passer-by's answer to the question: Where does the sky begin for you?
This is how PHILEMON & BAUCIS live on now. Without judgement. In a contemporary temple. Love and humanity intertwined.
PHILEMON & BAUCIS will take place in GC De Markten (Brussels) from February 10 till March 10 2025
Creative Artists: Sigrid & Filip Keunen
Production: Company HeyHey, GC De Markten
Dramaturgy: Guy Bindels
Blacksmith: Jordi Dolinckx
DJ: Rodolphe Coster
Performer: Merzedes Šturm-Lie