1/2 DH-ELL of the Institute for Popular Heat in Ghent (photo: Erik Peeters)
Hilarious objects, startling inventions and compelling performances with the city as a big stage. This weekend Tilburg will be dominated by Kunstfestival Cape Town. For three days, artists take possession of the city center where visitors are also participants.
How about a ‘hollowed out’ courier van that you can walk right through, the world’s smallest prison in which you can lock yourself up for a euro for five minutes or maybe you find a ride in the mini bumper car track even more challenging.
More than thirty installations and fantasies can be found scattered throughout the city centre. “During Cape Town, we want people to wonder again about what they take for granted. The artists in Cape Town, as it were, kiss you awake,” says artistic director Anja Reinhardt.
“At the same time, it’s just an absurd cartoon object.”
The artists of the Institute for Popular Warmth in Ghent attract a lot of attention on Friday with their open courier bus. “It’s nice to see that people walk through it with a broad smile. That is exactly the intention. As a joke to the vans that often block things in the city. At the same time, it’s just an absurd cartoon object,” explains Colin Tempel.
Characteristic of Cape Town is that visitors are invited to become part of the art themselves. For example from Rope, a huge rope by artist Ief Spincemaille. “You can decide for yourself what you do with it. The rope only becomes meaningful when you start playing with it. That interaction is meaningful, it is where poetry and beauty can arise”, explains artistic director Sander van Bussel.
“In this way, a memory from the past becomes visible.”
The largest art object can be seen on the Heuvel in Tilburg. The intention is for visitors to color more than 800,000 balls black, creating an image. In this way a memory from the past becomes visible.
Art Festival Cape Town can be experienced from 19 to 21 August at several locations in the city center of Tilburg. A number of larger objects will remain on view for a week longer.
