Seasonal Neighbours is a loose-fixed collective, focusing on different forms of seasonality and forms of cohabitation in Europe’s countryside. Through fieldwork, art and design interventions, conversations with stakeholders, critical representations and written research, this subject is explored in a myriad of themes. From the evolution of the metabolism of horticulture, the rural landscape and European labour migration stories,
to questions about the economy of scale in the agricultural sector, domesticity, public space, new forms of citizenship, etc.
In 2021/2022, the coronavirus measurements made the dependency of our food markets on migrant labour painstakingly visible. Supported by z33, Ciel Grommen and Maximiliaan Royakkers launched a call to artists, designers and social scientists to join a research project, aiming to write an ambitious sequal to the “house for seasonal neighbours”, an installation they had build in Borgloon in 2018.︎︎︎
An international 16-member collective was formed consisting of Karolina Michalik (PL), Claire Chassot (FR/CH), dallas collectif (Salomon and Camille) (FR/BE), Vanessa Brazeau (CA), Anastasia Eggers (GE/R), Mona Thijs (BE), Ewoud Vermote (BE), Ioana Lupașcu (RO), Ines Marita Schaerer (CH), Ode Windels (BE), Pia Jacques (BE), Yacinth Pos (NL), Jonathan de Maeyer (BE), Maximiliaan Royakkers (BE) and Ciel Grommen (BE). Biographies︎︎︎
As a condition to take part, all members of the collective had to engage in seasonal work somewhere in an agricultural farm in Europe. This situated experience subsequently forms the basis for exchanges on different related topics. Regularly, the collective also invited artists, organisations, researchers... to share and exchange practices and views. This situates the project in a rich and lively network of friends and colleagues. Friends︎︎︎
The collective research endeavour of two years (2021-2022) resulted in various in-situ interventions around Flanders and the Netherlands. Most were presented in an exhibition in z33, centre for art, design and architecture in Hasselt (Belgium) from January until April 2022. Exhibition︎︎︎
A publication continues this work (2022-2024) but now with a particular focus on weaving threads between the different contexts and perspectives. The collective works more intensively together and experiments with other artistic formats like mapping, shortstories etc. To be published in 2024 by Onomatopee!
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Seasonal Neighbours is made possible by the generous support of the Flemish Government, Z33 and Grensverleggers (scheme to support cultural collaborations between parties in Flanders, the Province of North Brabant, the Province of Limburg and the Province of Zeeland).
For the different trajectories we partner with organisations like Ar-Tur, Kunstenplatform PLAN B, Fransmansmuseum Koekelare, vrije radio Wellen, witloofmuseum Kampenhout, CC De Bogaard Sint-Truiden and we receivedf the financial support of Vocatio Fund, the Creative Industries Fund NL and many crowdfunders...
An international 16-member collective was formed consisting of Karolina Michalik (PL), Claire Chassot (FR/CH), dallas collectif (Salomon and Camille) (FR/BE), Vanessa Brazeau (CA), Anastasia Eggers (GE/R), Mona Thijs (BE), Ewoud Vermote (BE), Ioana Lupașcu (RO), Ines Marita Schaerer (CH), Ode Windels (BE), Pia Jacques (BE), Yacinth Pos (NL), Jonathan de Maeyer (BE), Maximiliaan Royakkers (BE) and Ciel Grommen (BE). Biographies︎︎︎
As a condition to take part, all members of the collective had to engage in seasonal work somewhere in an agricultural farm in Europe. This situated experience subsequently forms the basis for exchanges on different related topics. Regularly, the collective also invited artists, organisations, researchers... to share and exchange practices and views. This situates the project in a rich and lively network of friends and colleagues. Friends︎︎︎
The collective research endeavour of two years (2021-2022) resulted in various in-situ interventions around Flanders and the Netherlands. Most were presented in an exhibition in z33, centre for art, design and architecture in Hasselt (Belgium) from January until April 2022. Exhibition︎︎︎
A publication continues this work (2022-2024) but now with a particular focus on weaving threads between the different contexts and perspectives. The collective works more intensively together and experiments with other artistic formats like mapping, shortstories etc. To be published in 2024 by Onomatopee!
Seasonal Neighbours is made possible by the generous support of the Flemish Government, Z33 and Grensverleggers (scheme to support cultural collaborations between parties in Flanders, the Province of North Brabant, the Province of Limburg and the Province of Zeeland).
For the different trajectories we partner with organisations like Ar-Tur, Kunstenplatform PLAN B, Fransmansmuseum Koekelare, vrije radio Wellen, witloofmuseum Kampenhout, CC De Bogaard Sint-Truiden and we receivedf the financial support of Vocatio Fund, the Creative Industries Fund NL and many crowdfunders...