With 'Art on the Meuse', Z33 and RLKM are bringing art to the Limburg Meuse Valley. Between 2022 and 2024, five artworks will appear in Dilsen-Stokkem, Kinrooi, Lanaken, Maaseik and Maasmechelen. read more
Olivier Goethals
Billboards along the Rijksweg
Billboard Elen (N78 across n° 954)
Billboard Maasmechelen (N78 to Lanaken, access road E314)
Billboard Leut (N 78 to Maasmechelen)
Bringing the Meuse to the Rijksweg
This busy roadway flanks the Meuse valley like a densely built-up ribbon. Although the river runs parallel to the road, little reminds of its proximity. It is precisely this paradox that triggers the artist. He incorporates images of the Meuse in collages on billboards. The four temporary billboards stand next to other billboards. At first sight, it seems as if they are part of the surroundings, but the images of the Meuse make them stand out.
The artist collected hundreds of images of recent and historical floods from newspaper archives. His collages show the power of the river beyond its banks. They offer users of the Rijksweg – motorists, cyclists and passers-by – a different view of their familiar surroundings. At the same time, they point out the spatial challenges in this highly urbanised area, where the river claims its place in the landscape.
Bio
Olivier Goethals (1980) lives and works in Ghent. He studied Architecture and Urban Development, before working as an architect and artist. In his artistic practice he investigates links between space and consciousness. Thus he created spatial interventions and artistic installations for Het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam, Z33 Hasselt, Extra City Antwerp, Be-Part Waregem, SMAK Gent & Palais De Tokyo Paris. Moreover, he designs and realizes all spatial interventions for the Ghent artist collective 019.
In the period 2008-2016 he worked as a freelance architect for architectural firm De Vylder Vinck Tailleu. Since 2010 he has been a lecturer at the KU Leuven, Department of Architecture. He also gave guest lectures for RU Ghent Faculty of Architecture, LUCA School of Arts Experimental Studio and ETH Zurich Faculty of Architecture.
Practical information
The billboards are on view until
- 31 March 2022 (Elen)
- 7 April 2022 (Maasmechelen)
- 24 May 2022 (Maaseik en Leut)
There is no parking accomodation available.
