Athos Burez Reimagines Ensor's 'Baths of Ostend' with 180 Local Participants

Flemish photographer Athos Burez (born 1987, Ronse) has created a contemporary photographic reinterpretation of James Ensor's 1890 drawing 'The Baths of Ostend,' involving 180 local residents as extras. The large-format photograph (100×140 cm) updates the surreal beach scene, addressing modern themes such as migration, pollution, nudity, and homosexuality, while retaining Ensor's blend of irony and social critique. The work will be exhibited alongside Ensor's original 1899 print at the Ensor House in Ostend, the artist's birthplace turned museum, until January 10, 2021. After the exhibition, Burez's photograph will join the collection of the MSK Ghent, which also houses Ensor's painting. An interactive app, Ensor Walk, guides visitors through 13 significant locations in Ostend related to Ensor's life.