BeCraft presents a group exhibition, ‘A la belle vue de l’abattoir’, which marks 20 years of organisation.
Bringing together around fifty artists from twelve European countries, the exhibition explores the theme “Abattoirs” through contemporary applied arts and crafts practices. Through memory, poetry and critical perspectives, the works explore the history and contemporary meanings of these sites, now part of our heritage, and question our relationship to the living, to making, and to transformation.
BeCraft is a professional association that promotes applied arts in the Wallonia and Brussels regions. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, paper, textiles, and product design are among the creative fields in which the supported and promoted artists work. Since its inception, the association has worked closely with the ECA – European Crafts Alliance (formerly WCC-Europe).
Feltmakers Ireland member Dr Niki Collier‘s piece, ‘The guts to be accountable’, is part of the exhibition.
Artist Statement from Dr Collier –
This is a three-part handmade felt sculpture emoted from the texture and form of the stomach, the guts, and the tongue The sculpture is informed by a cow’s digestive system which is a complicated multitude of organs. They can be a source of learning and growth; simultaneously as an organ and as a symptom of how we interact with food. The food industry today has developed such a disconnect between the food that we eat and its origin that we are conditioned to believe that only certain parts of the animal are nutritious or have a purpose. Rather than looking into changing ourselves: our relationship to food and what and how we eat, we demand the humane killing of farmed animals. The work is also a comment on greed and how greed dictates smokescreens such as ‘’humane killing of animals’’ rather than addressing our behaviour in how and what we eat; which would have an actual impact on the sustainability of our environment. The stomach is now discarded as rubbish by the contemporary food industry, while it used to be a source of healing, a treat reserved for special occasions, and a membrane used to create tools for music and craft. The sculptures aim to start a conversation about our eating habits – what we should not discard – and focus on our own accountability rather than on methods of slaughter.
Where: Anciens Abattoirs de Mons, Rue de la Trouille 17, 7000 Mons, Belgium
Runs until the 24th of May.
For more information, visit BeCraft’s website – https://www.becraft.org/event/a-la-belle-vue-de-l-abattoir-expo
Instagram: @becraftorg @nikicollierfelt
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