Wapke Feenstra

Moving Landscape

The Dutch artist Wapke Feenstra (1959, Hennaarderadeel), brought-up on a farm in Friesland, presents new readings on cultural manifestations in the countryside. By means of a direct dialogue with residents active in the landscape, she situates her artistic project in a rural setting. This project fits into a European framework and the ongoing debates about cultural heritage.

Essential for Wapke Feenstra is the contact with the users and processors of the countryside. She organises meetings in which everyone can speak. In this way the perception of the environment is brought to life, creating new interpretations of the landscape.

On invitation of FLACC, Wapke Feenstra’s project Moving Landscape, planned for 2010, refers to explorations in the Limburg countryside. This is done, by following the movements of land-related products: gravel, sheep, sand: everything that is produced by the primary sector that gets moved or travels.

Wapke Feenstra will accompany the users of the landscape in various locations: a gravel extraction company on the Maas river, the Kempen moorland, a mine site in Genk, ... In each location one or two trips are made in which she travels with someone and thereby follows the land-based product. The artist photographs and reports what happens on a single day. In the autumn of 2010 the results will be communicated via newspapers, leaflets, GPS, and mobile phone, as well as via cycling and walking routes.

Biographical Data

Wapke Feenstra lives and works in Rotterdam. Her work explores the direct physical and mental environment using local knowledge. After receiving her postgraduate degree at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht, she co-initiated the platform for NEsTWORK at the occasion of Manifesta 1 in Rotterdam. She was invited for a residency at Grizedale Arts in Northern England, together with Kathrin Böhm and Antje Schiffers, co-founders of the art association myvillages.org. Since then they have been working together in the International Village Shop, a rural network that takes-on the issues of land, production and value.

For more information: www.myvillages.org

Project announcement: lecture on Saturday 26 September 2009

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, in announcing the project, Wapke Feenstra initiates a gathering to which people who will be involved in the future tours are invited. The aim of the weekend is for people to get to know one another and familiarise themselves with the locations.

In order to acquaint people with the project, FLACC is hosting a lecture in which the artist's work will be introduced and the plan explained to the participants. At the same time a meal will be provided, encouraging conversation to continue in an informal manner. Applesauce made from the apples in the orchard will be served, together with fries from the farmer’s potatoes and lamb stew from the shepherd’s flock.

From all six locations material relating to the movement of each product will be available. Participants and guests can write down their ideas on blackboards. On completion of the workshop and based on a shared interest in the moving landscape, an initial approach will be taken to creating a new network.

Practical information and reservations:

Moving Landscape, Wapke Feenstra
Saturday 26 September 2009, 5pm – 8pm
FLACC – Casino Modern, André Dumontlaan 2
B-3600 Genk

From 6pm onwards: applesauce out of the apple orchard, and fries from the potato farmer, lamb stew from the shepherd he lecture and the meal are free, but the number of places is limited. Please confirm your availability to Sarah Indeherberge on 089/ 84 52 23 or via email sarah@flacc.info.