In February 2013, I spent two weeks in ZSenne Art/Lab, at the window, writing. Dealing with the presences on both sides of the glass – those of past residents inside and my own, and those of passers-by on the outside. I was there, trying to figure out what I was doing there. In the time running up to those two weeks, I concocted big plans for my interactions with the neighborhood, but during walks in the neighborhood in preparation for those interactions - just before the two week residency - I had come to feel those plans were to much running ahead of myself. I had projected myself getting in touch with the many schools around ZSenne, to share my imagination about the practice of writing as a sense-motor experience. But what real reasons did I have to meet residents and students or employees from the schools around the art laboratory? My plans were based on previous experiences which happened in the sole company of other artists. So I decided to take a step back and simply let myself be affected by everyday interactions with the direct surroundings of ZSenne, and meanwhile develop a style or define the genre that would shape my written documentary of that everyday behavior. The open vitrine architecture of ZSenne allowed me to work in my notebooks and at the same time stay in touch with the outside.
Now I'm quite excited about having spent some time in such a simple role: the writer at the window. Some observing, some daydreaming. Some writing, some editing. Some copying. And a rare conversation with some people who dared to knock at the door and enter. In stead of throwing my obsession at people I quitely hung it in my the window which was temporarily mine: I posted an enlarged copy of the first pages of the new notebook in the front window of ZSenne.
The difference with the Rez-de-chaussée commerciale at rue Delaunoy is clear. ZSenne is not new, it got labeled; its windows are ready to sell, but not really addressing the passers by; ZSenne an outsider even if its residents are concerned with the neighborhood; funnily, by its situation at the extreme point of the triangular block of houses, and its monopoly over the little square in the fork of the two streets, it is at the same time a geographic outsider and an entree point.
Around the neighborhood of ZSenne I also happened to end up in Chloé Dierckx' practice, handing out flyers to people in the street addressing them on the topic of speculative bubbles in economy, or whatever story I wanted to attach to the project of Chloé. That would be Bubbles to make foam, of course. A short stop at Jupiter, the bar on Place de Ninove, finds a mostly unreceptive audience. The timing again. To short to escape the first impression I make. It's a pity I don't live there anymore. But perhaps the greek lady and her sandwiches can provide more time.
There's some geographical simplification to inspire us perhaps: gentrification flies into Molenbeek from the runway of Dansaert and the Rue des Fabriques, passing by very different bars at the municipal borders. Walvis and Jupiter.
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The difference with the Rez-de-chaussée commerciale at rue Delaunoy is clear. ZSenne is not new, it got labeled; its windows are ready to sell, but not really addressing the passers by; ZSenne an outsider even if its residents are concerned with the neighborhood; funnily, by its situation at the extreme point of the triangular block of houses, and its monopoly over the little square in the fork of the two streets, it is at the same time a geographic outsider and an entree point.
Around the neighborhood of ZSenne I also happened to end up in Chloé Dierckx' practice, handing out flyers to people in the street addressing them on the topic of speculative bubbles in economy, or whatever story I wanted to attach to the project of Chloé. That would be Bubbles to make foam, of course. A short stop at Jupiter, the bar on Place de Ninove, finds a mostly unreceptive audience. The timing again. To short to escape the first impression I make. It's a pity I don't live there anymore. But perhaps the greek lady and her sandwiches can provide more time.
There's some geographical simplification to inspire us perhaps: gentrification flies into Molenbeek from the runway of Dansaert and the Rue des Fabriques, passing by very different bars at the municipal borders. Walvis and Jupiter.
...