TRACK is a unique art experience in the public and semi public space of the city of Ghent. It offers surprising, enriching and unexpected encounters with the city, its history and its inhabitants and incites to reflect upon urban realities and the contemporary human condition in a broader sense. 41 international artists were invited to conceive new art works that are strongly rooted in the urban fabric of Ghent but link the local context with issues of global significance.

The two curators Philippe Van Cauteren and Mirjam Varadinis took the time to select exemplary locations in the wider city centre of Ghent and invited artists who have an affinity with the thematical context of those places. The selected artists used the local reality as a fertile source of inspiration and the results of their in-depth explorations are not simply traditional works of art, but artistic projects in all different medias that embrace the social, economic, cultural and political conditions of the city and the times we live in. Their works call for participation, interact with the different communities in various ways and leave permanent traces.

TRACK is conceived as a universe of parallel narrations, occurences and (hi)stories. It consists of six clusters that offer a historical, cultural, architectural and mental cross-section of Ghent and the idea of a city today. Each cluster has its own distinct atmosphere and touches upon a specific issue like mobility, religion, migration, economy, language, science and city changes.

TRACK invites the audience to explore the exhibition in various ways. Visitors do not have to follow a given linear trail but are free to choose their own personal TRACK through the clusters and the city.  Each visitor thus creates a different kind of narration, based on his or her background and the way they are approaching the exhibition. This free and multi-layered perception corresponds to our globalised world and the idea of plural realities happening at the same time.

TRACK is welcoming everybody to visit the exhibition and to be inspired by the visionary potential of art.

TRACK was initiated by the S.M.A.K. It continues the tradition established by the large-scale exhibition projects Chambres d’Amis (1986) and Over the Edges (2000), which installed contemporary art in the context of the city and entered into direct dialogue with the public.

Overview of the Artists by Country

1. Adelita Husni-Bey Italy – Libya
2. Ahmet Öğüt – Turkey
3. Alexandra Bachzetsis – Switzerland
4. Alon Levin – Israel
5. Bart Lodewijks – Netherlands
6. Benjamin Verdonck – Belgium
7. Christina & Roman Hemauer & Keller – Switzerland
8. Christoph Büchel  – Switzerland
9. Cyprien Gaillard – France

10.  Danh Vo Denmark – Vietnam

11.  Emilio López-Menchero – Spain

12.  Erik van Lieshout – Netherlands

13.  Erwan Mahéo – France

14.  Javier Tellez – Venezuela

15.  John Bock – Germany

16.  Lara Almarcegui – Spain

17.  Lawrence Weiner – USA

18.  Leo Copers – Belgium

19.  Lonnie & Siebren van Brummelen & de Haan – Netherlands

20.  Mark Manders – Netherlands

21.  Massimo Bartolini – Italy

22.  Mekhitar Garabedian – Belgium

23.  Michaël Borremans – Belgium

24.  Michaë & Ingar Elmgreen & Dragset – Denmark & Norway

25.  Mike Bouchet – USA

26.  Mircea Cantor – Romania

27.  Pascale Marthine Tayou – Cameroon

28.  Pawel Althamer – Poland

29.  Peter Buggenhout – Belgium

30.  Peter & David Fischli & Weiss – Switzerland

31.  Pilvi Takala – Finland

32.  Simona & Ivo Denicolai & Provoost   Belgium – Italy

33.  Superflex – Denmark

34.  Susanne Kriemann – Germany

35.  Sven Augustijnen – Belgium

36.  Tadashi Kawamata – Japan

37.  Tazu Rous – Japan

38.  Tercerunquinto – Mexico

39.  Teresa Margolles – Mexico

40.  Tobias Putrih – Slovenia

41.  Yorgos Sapountzis – Greece

OPEN Uptil September 16, 2012

OPENING HOURS

TRACK:
from 12.05 … 16.09.2012, 12am till 6pm.

SMAK: 10am till 6 pm, on thursday till 10pm.

TRACK and SMAK: closed on mondays Exception: SMAK is open on Monday May 28th. You can visit SMAK and discover the works of art in open air.