The formula is not new: a few years ago, Casino Luxembourg organised “Under the bridges, along the river” in the Pétrusse valley. But this will be the first time that such an exhibition takes place in Esch-sur-Alzette. This initiative is the work of , a gallery owner in Luxembourg and founder of Nosbaum Reding Gallery, who curated the exhibition “Nothing is permanent” and brings together a host of internationally renowned artists alongside established Luxembourg artists.
“The ambition is to present high quality works under the open sky to as wide an audience as possible, while encouraging visitors to come and discover the cultural venues in the town of Esch-sur-Alzette, many of which have opened during this cultural year,” explains Reding.
The list of invited artists includes Tony Cragg, Wim Delvoye, Katinka Bock, Stephan Balkenhol, Barthélemy Toguo, Erwin Wurm, as well as Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil, Tina Gillen, Hisae Ikenaga and Claudia Passeri, among others. In total, no less than 23 works are scattered along the route, installed in front of or near emblematic buildings of the city (town hall, Justice of the Peace...) or cultural institutions (Konschthal, Bridderhaus, Museum of the Resistance...).
“The theme we chose is not to be read in a negative way, but as a form of resilience, of being able to rise from the ashes. Until the 1960s, Esch was the iron metropolis and derived all its power and wealth from the steel industry. Today, this industry has almost disappeared and knowledge and research have taken over with the presence of the university and research organisations. Moreover, the city is resolutely turned towards the future with the development of major urban projects. The choice of this theme underlines the positive character of change, a moment of rebirth, a constructive evolution towards living together,” he explains.
The choice of title is also a tribute to Michel Majerus, as it is taken from one of his works. “This year we are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the untimely death of Michel Majerus, born in Esch-sur-Alzette. It was very important to me to pay tribute to him,” says Reding. His large painting “Newcomer” (1999) will be exhibited in the Konschthal.
More than a third of the works were produced especially for this event, at a cost of more than €500,000. Near each work, visitors will find a QR code which, when scanned, will give them access to explanations about the work. A catalogue and a website are also being produced to accompany the project.
Inaugurated on 16 June, the project will run until the first weekend of Art Week on 13 November.
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.