Art in the park: Enghien’s sixth Biennale opens in heritage domain

Visitors to the new edition of the Biennale d’Enghien can enjoy a celebration of contemporary art in stunning surroundings.

Just 20 minutes by train lies the charming town of Enghien in the province of Hainaut. As well as many medieval buildings, it boasts a beautiful castle – the current version dating from 1913 – and a spectacular 182-hectare park. Here, every two years, spread out over the stables, chapel, tower and grounds, is an art fair by Belgian and international artists.

The theme of the sixth edition is Tenir Debout (Still Standing or Stand Up). This title is fitting in the current climate, not only of war, but also the massive cuts to cultural funding, said the event’s co-curator – with Myriam Louyest – Christophe Veys, an art professor and director of La Louvière’s Centre de la Gravure et de l’Image Imprimé.

One of the characteristics of the show is that it encompasses all types of art – painting, drawings, photography, videos and sculpture – in clay, ceramics or stone. Tapestries also feature - as befits a town famous for this industry and possessing a small tapestry museum on the upper floor of its cultural centre in La Maison Jonathas.

The 12 artists include world-renowned British artist Grayson Perry (1960). A former Turner Prize winner (in 2003), he is known for ceramic vases and – as shown in the stables’ main hall – tapestries. His very brightly coloured The Upper Class at Bay is dominated by a giant reindeer and also includes a poshly dressed couple. The subhead ‘threatened species’ appears at the bottom of the piece.

Also prominent are the captivating works of France’s Michel Goyon (1963; pictured above), fresh from his successful show at Brussels’ Art et marges museum. His world described in school exercise books is all mathematical formulae, collages and other experiments, in minute, colourful, sometimes psychedelic detail.

Hainaut plastic arts prize-winner Rémy Hans (1994) has produced two identical pieces but in different mediums. A dreamy sketch of a phantom-like white house hangs in the castle workshop. Then, just off the path leading to the Seven Star Pavilion, is a real cardboard house. Identical to its picture, it also has little flowers drawn at the bottom of the walls, with real plants growing by their side.

Finally, at the end of the art walk, another young Belgian artist Benoît Jacquemin (1993) has hung his ‘dream catcher’ in the pavilion. This giant sculpture made of bronze chains swinging and glittering in the light seems to offer hope of better days. It would also be difficult to steal, Veys said, noting the challenge of making outdoor art secure and regretting the recent acts of vandalism at the property, including the theft of parts of a blue stone staircase.  

Meanwhile, he hopes this exhibition – which has remained free despite the cuts – will continue to attract not only seasoned art lovers but also everyone visiting the park, giving parents for example the chance to introduce art to their children.

Tenir Debout is open daily (8.00 to 21.00) until 20 September.

Photos: Marie ROSEN Sans titre, ©Vincent Everarts; Photo 3 - Le petit galet by Michel Goyon ©John Van Oers; Tempoyon RDR (detail) ©Ilan Weiss