Isabel Fredeus
Water in Progress, 2015 / 2019
Water, cotton canvas
150 x 200cm
CLIMATE SURPRISE
Artists : Isabel Fredeus - Kaat Van Doren
Curated by Sue Spaid
INVITATION
Duration show: 11/01/2019 -05/05/2019
You can visit the exhibition by appointment only: 0479 339839
Additional OPEN SUNDAYS
as starting points of the changing exhibition "Climate Surprise"
11:00 -17:00h 10/02/2019
11:00 - 17:00h 17/03/2019
11:00 - 17:00h 05/05/2019
“Climate Surprise”
pairs Isabel Fredeus’ storm glass sculptures, which visibly react to weather, with Kaat Van Doren’s photographs of bitumen chunks that reflect light when frozen.
Just as Fredeus employs a 19th century tool that was invented to help ship captains predict storms, Van Doren has been experimenting with the late 18th century tool Mirror Noir (originally known as Claude glass), used by painters to simplify the landscape’s color range. Van Doren recently created a giant Mirror Noir (2017-2019) by spraying an abandoned gas station with bitumen, whose surface appears matte black until a sun ray hits it and spreads a golden glow.
“Climate Surprise” takes it title from temperature’s counter-intuitive influence on these artists’ materials, as well as the rise of extreme and even unpredictable climate events that have occasioned scientific studies of how “climate surprise” impacts human behavior.
Those expecting Fredeus’ icy-looking solution to become clear when temperatures rise (like water) or Van Doren’s viscous liquid to flatten when frozen (like ice) will no doubt be surprised. In fact, Fredeus’ camphor-ethanol blend becomes visibly more dynamic at higher temperatures, as captured by her video; while Van Doren’s medium works its magic at lower temperatures, as indicated by her series of 32 photographs.
Fredeus and Van Doren use temperature-sensitive materials to demonstrate the relationship between fossil fuel consumption and climate change. Fredeus will exhibit a temperature-sensitive floor work that visualizes evaporation.
In addition to the opening, three additional Sunday events have been scheduled to invite the public to experience this changing exhibition, as winter gives way to spring, and the artists exhibit new works in response to their reflecting on this exhibition’s content, making “climate surprise” a kind of artistic practice.
Sue Spaid 2018
Kaat Van Doren
Miroir Noir inside 17092017 / 11.18 h
in situ installation 2017 Campus Coppens Brasschaat
digital print, 2018 on dibond 120x80cm
Isabel Fredeus Isabel Fredeus
Under the Weather #1 and #2, 2018
Handblown glass, zellaan, chemicals
Under the Weather (Autumn), 2018
Single-channel video, 2’51’’
Filmed/edited by Aäron Beyers
Kaat Van Doren
From Bitumena series, Fig.1 to 24 (of 32), 2017
Bitumen type 100/200 (Drongen, BE)
Temperature -18 °C
Printed on museum etching paper, 350gr.
21 x 29.7cm (A4)
