Flanders Triennials: Bruges and Beaufort Showcase Contemporary Art's Dialogue with Territory

Two triennials in Flanders, Belgium, are using contemporary art to reinterpret landscape and urban space. The fourth edition of the Bruges Triennial, titled "Space of Possibility" and curated by Scendy Gardin and Sevie Tsampalla, runs until September 1. It features twelve temporary works in less-visited areas of the city, addressing themes like control, identity, public space, and ecology. Notable installations include Mona Hatoum's "Full Swing" in the garden of the Onzelievevrouw psychiatric hospital, Ivan Argote's "Who?" with bronze boots suspended over water, Studio Ossidiana's "Earthsea Pavilion" made of soil and plants, and Ivan Morrison's "Star of the Sea" on Zeebrugge beach. The eighth edition of the Beaufort Triennial, curated by Els Wuyts, runs until November 3 along the coast and villages. It includes Selva Aparicio's "At Rest" with bronze palms of Nieuwpoort residents, Alexandra Bircken's "Top Down / Bottom Up" atop the King Albert I Monument, and Sara Bjarland's "Monobloc Moments" stacking plastic chairs. Both triennials emphasize accessibility and engagement with local communities.