The city of Knokke-Heist, BOZAR and BMW strongly believe in the importance of beauty, the power of technology and the impact of art. Together they had the desire to create a place where all of this comes together. In an exceptional location and in a special setting, they invite thousands of people each year to be inspired by the work of a renowned artist, unique and much-discussed. It is the ambition to create an intriguing edition every year that warmly enchants and surprises the visitor and grows into a reference and fixed appointment in your summer agenda. In this unique and exclusive setting, visitors can also enjoy delicious tapas and a glass of wine or soft drink in addition to art.

This first edition BOZAR takes up its curatorship by putting none less than Jan Fabre at the heart of BMW ARTVILLE, the most versatile and surprising living artist in Belgium. BMW ARTVILLE immediately fulfills its central promise: ‘a cutting-edge experience’.

Just come and see it all, at BMW Artville, at the beach just in front of the casino of Knokke-Heist, from July 13 until August 26.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

A SUSTAINABLE LOCATION

Artist Jan Fabre takes central place in the first edition of BMW Artville…

“With JAN FABRE CURATED BY BOZAR we confirm the central position that art takes in Knokke-Heist. Besides nature, gastronomy, shopping and sport, culture and art is an important asset of our municipality. The number of art galleries has risen from 56 to 80 in the past eight years, and numerous works of art can be admired on the public domain in Knokke-Heist. “Says Anthony Wittesaele, Alderman of Tourism.

BMW ARTVILLE is an example of a sustainable approach. The pop-up art location consists of two wooden pavilions connected by a terrace and was designed by the Belgian architects “G2architecten”. The pavilions are designed in such a way that they can be mounted and disassembled year after year without leaving a single trace on the beach. We also chose only those materials that are 100% recyclable: wood, aluminum and glass. In addition, this architecture deliberately opts for a design that is completely absorbed in its natural environment of sand, wind and water.

JAN FABRE. EXTASE, ORAKELS AND THE HOUR BLUE

“In the new performance film by Jan Fabre ‘Schande übers ganze Erdenreich!’ (2018) the earth is called to repentance. Performer and priestess Stella Höttler appears five times with a small turtle in each hand.

She carries the bearer of the world, the primal mother and can herself be recognized as Mother Nature in her five robes with the colors of mist and dew (green), wind (black), fire and smoke (blue), steam (red), rain (white).

Five times she awakens ecstasy through her breathing and movement. Each time she is fully absorbed in her body for twenty minutes and she transfers herself to the natural element she is currently subjected to. She dances in the morning mist or dew, she cradles in the bumps of the wind, she is stirred up by the blazing fire and the fumes of the smoke and she tolerates the atomization of the steam and the mist from the rain until she becomes pure – white – Angel of ecstasy. Just come to witness this film performance…and much more, such as BMW Art on Cars.

BMW and Art have gone a long way over the past decades: One can only admire Andy Warhol’s 1979 BMW M1…

We will report more on it soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel