ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Koen Vanmechelen's Labiomista: Art, Science, and a Tapir

artist · 2026-07-17

Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen's Labiomista project, located an hour from Brussels, is a sprawling complex that merges art, science, and animal life to explore human identity and coexistence. The site features a temple dedicated to friendship with a tapir, reflecting Vanmechelen's cross-disciplinary approach. Labiomista includes a menagerie of animals, botanical gardens, and architectural structures, all designed to provoke questions about biodiversity and interconnectedness. The project has been in development for over a decade and continues to evolve.

Key facts

  • Labiomista is located an hour from Brussels.
  • The project combines art, science, and animals.
  • It features a temple of friendship dedicated to a tapir.
  • Koen Vanmechelen is the artist behind Labiomista.
  • The site includes a menagerie and botanical gardens.
  • The project examines human identity and coexistence.
  • Labiomista has been developed over more than ten years.
  • It is a cross-disciplinary initiative.

Entities

Artists

Locations

  • Brussels
  • Belgium

Sources