TRACK leaves a trail of art in its wake

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3/11/2009

The much talked about art event Over The Edges is finally getting its sequel. In 2012, TRACK will once again be putting works of art on display in the streets of Ghent. Even the outlying neighbourhoods are involved, as TRACK will be leaving a trail of art in its wake extending from Dampoort station to Gent-Sint-Pieters station.

Everybody still remembers Over The Edges as being the much discussed art event that left its mark on Ghent's artistic life in 2000. It included Jan Fabre's Hamzuilen, eight columns clad with 8,000 pieces of smoked ham at Ghent University, and Patrick Lebret's piece with white porcelain plates being projected out of a window and smashing on the ground. Jan Hoet exhibited these diverse works of art in Ghent city centre – in the middle of the street, in among the people. The only remaining tangible reminder of Over The Edges is the spider's web that still leans up against Gravensteen Castle. This too will soon be removed.

Sequel

So it was high time for something new. 'Over The Edges is not coming back,' stresses Philippe Van Cauteren (S.M.A.K. Artistic and Business Director). 'We will however be staging a sequel called TRACK. We envisage an art trail extending from Dampoort station to Gent-Sint-Pieters station. TRACK refers on the one hand to the railway and on the other to the grooves on a CD. By following the trail, we have chosen to display not only the heart of the city but its periphery too.'

TRACK's timing is clear to Van Cauteren. 'It's going to be held in 2012,' he states. 'We were originally planning to hold it in 2011, but given the costs involved and the current economic crisis, it seemed more sensible to wait a year so that we could raise more funding. Because, it's not exactly cheap. I can't mention any specific figures, but it's going to run into the millions.'

The purpose of TRACK is to exhibit art in the middle of the street, as well as at indoor locations. S.M.A.K. aims to commission forty or so artists, as well as other cultural institutions. 'They'll then be able to make a contribution from their own perspectives,' explains Van Cauteren.

Controversy

Over The Edges caused a major controversy in 2000, but it also attracted hordes of tourists to Ghent for weeks on end. Although TRACK does not bear Jan Hoet's signature, it is already hoped that it will have a similar effect as last time. Whether weird and wonderful objets d'art, such as the naked lady in the water tank or the ugly giant on Sint-Michielshelling, will crop up in 2012 – as they did in 2000 – remains to be seen. The Hamzuilen caused a huge controversy during Over The Edges. Photograph: JVK