work

early 2001 meg (damaged goods) proposed me to participate at a 'master test for young artists' organised by the 'vlaams bouwmeester' (this is the organization that is responsible for all buildings built by the flemisch government, directed by bob van reeth).
in this test 5 young artists were asked to propose an idea or concept for an artwork in close relation to one of the architectonic projects, which were being realised for brugge, cultural capital of europe in 2002.

i choose to work in relation to a new bridge over the canal coupure. for this location jorg conzett and his team designed an extraordinary bridge for pedestrians and bickers.

the architect's mission was to develop a bridge, able to let pass some pleasure-yachts in summer, without dramatically change the skyline of brugge or the intimacy of the neighborhood. so conzett invented a new kind of bridge: 4 enormous (6 meters high) pillars support 2 long metal tubes (80 cm diameter). the actual bridge, made out of oak, hangs suspended by iron cables from the 2 tubes. to open/close the bridge, the tubes turn around their axis, shortening/lengthening the cables and thus raising/lowering the bridge.

the work i designed, coupure, consists of a wooden man cut horizontally in 19 spots, dividing him in 20 parts. together this body discs take the image of a person, stretched out on his stomach. each disc is attached to a system of engines and wheels by means of 2 metal cables. every time a visitor passes by, the engines start to turn, so that the statue starts to dance his way up. one all the way up, the whole is lowered to its initional position, ready to start all over.. the choreography will last for about 1min 20 sec, the time the bridge needs to open or close.

thanks to the flemisch government (dienst waterwegen kust), coupure has been presented to the public on november 8th 2002, accompanied by a performance inspired by coupure and the bridge.

ugo