Four-day festival ‘Beyond the black box’ explores the boundaries between different art disciplines: “An eclectic and hybrid event” (Antwerp)

During those four days you can discover art in various, sometimes somewhat strange places in the city. Think of the Hof ter Beke residential care center, social blocks in the Seefhoek district, Permeke library,…

“We want to get rid of the classic setup in which we often experience art,” says artistic director of Monty theater house, Louis Janssens. “The ‘black box’ of how we look at theater and art, that is. During the day Beyond the black box the audience is involved and they are not just spectators. We explore the common ground between different art disciplines. Think of theater, visual arts, dance, video,….”

During the four-day festival with around fifteen performances and installations, you will discover artists who venture off the beaten track. “They experiment with titillating cross-fertilization between theater, performance and visual arts. The festival challenges you to look differently and be surprised by work in unexpected places and moments,” says Janssens. “We also work with atypical presentation formats, and take the spectators with us on stage or on the street.”

For example, you can take a walk in the streets around the Monty theater house, at Montignystraat 3 in the South of Antwerp, or ‘chase’ a dancer in the working-class Seefhoek district. “The public is invited along between the residential blocks, which will be demolished in the future,” says Janssens. “Artist and choreographer Kinga Jaczewska provides a dance performance in a special setting of brutalist architecture.”

All ages

The residents of Hof ter Beke are also involved in the entire arts festival. “We first invite them to Monty’s stage,” says Janssens. “The performance will then move to the residential care center and will be performed in an empty service flat. Artist Rebecca Lenaerts presents a performance on the border between theater and visual art in which she works with linen, textiles and cotton sheets from her family. With this material, which is full of stories, she transforms her body into a sculpture. The textile envelops the body and the folds have a life of their own. You witness how the layers slowly peel away.”

“We want to bring together art lovers of all ages and backgrounds,” Janssens continues. “That is why we actively involve the audience in the performances and installations.”

Urban planning

They also do this in the Permeke library, on De Coninckplein. “There, Elly Van Eeghem talks to the spectators, looking for what they miss in the city. Together they delve into the concept of urban planning and development. The results will be presented in Monty on May 5. There we show, using drawings and models, what the new city could look like.”

Beyond the black box originated in Amsterdam and was brought to Antwerp by theater house Monty. This year it takes place for the third time. “We provide a mix of local and international artists,” says Janssens. “That makes it an eclectic, hybrid event.”

More information about tickets and programming can be found on Monty’s website.