After an absence of three weeks Little artnecdotes returned with a new contribution. This week’s post regarded my job for Beaufort, the triennial of contemporary art at the Belgian coast, and its edition in 2015.

What meaning can be given to borders or borderlines? When is something out of bounds? Borders can be an obstacle or a constraint, but also a necessary barricade. They determine what is and what is not. They close off, confine and exclude. They make ‘the other’ possible. Beaufort Beyond Borders is an invitation to think outside the box and explore other areas or zones. What impact do borders and borderlines have on stories? How do you create stories in this context? Beaufort aims to look to the future with an understanding of the past. What do borders currently mean to us and what can they mean in the future? How does this manifest itself? New borders arise by climate changes, epidemics, food shortages, technological progress, mobility and also political and economic conflicts. These boundless and incomprehensible issues play more than ever a decisive part. The selected artists for Beaufort were invited to examine, reflect on and start a dialogue about these issues from their artistic view.

In Beaufort Beyond Borders three remarkable natural and heritage locations played a key part: the nature reserve of the Zwin on the east coast, the provincial domain of Raversyde in the middle with the Atlantic Wall bunkers, and the visitor center De Nachtegaal with the surrounding Oosthoekduinen at the west coast. Chosen for their specific location and link to the theme, these three venues presented three group exhibitions.

The scope of the coastline perfectly complemented the vision of this edition and forms part of the playing field. As an artistic link between the three main locations one work of art was on display in each of the 10 coastal municipalities. This unique concept was to be translated into 1 solo exhibition along the Belgian coastline.