Who am I and how do I relate to the world? At the Fred&Ferry Gallery, Winnie Claessens is presenting three exhibitions: Winnie-Expo, Winnie-World and World-Expo. Claessens takes a closer look at both herself and the world. What aspects define us as humans? Where are we now and what does the future hold?

 

In her quest for self-discovery and a better understanding of the world, Winnie Claessens encounters traits that are inherent to humanity. We continually face challenges, seek solutions to difficulties and envision possibilities for growth. It's a perpetual cycle of learning and evolving. "I am fascinated by space exploration and technological advancements," Claessens explains. "It's remarkable how we innovate and problem solve. But our actions also have consequences and we make mistakes. So, I am concerned about the future. One moment, there's wonder and hope, and the next, fear of the unknown. We possess vast knowledge, curiosity and a hunger for more, yet there's also much we don't know. I appreciate the contradictions inherent to being human." She visualises life's duality through her work.

 

 

Claessens presents her journey and results of her own artistic endeavours in Winnie-Expo. Her fascination lies in the rapid technological progress. "We've achieved so much already; how will it continue to evolve?" Claessens wonders. "How long until we establish space stations on the moon and inhabit Mars? Who determines what's possible and permissible? I see many hopeful developments, but also threats and prevailing fears." Recently, she focused her research on space exploration. For her current exhibition, she turns her attention to Earth. Which structures resonate, possess enduring qualities and can we cherish as memories or take into space? "I was drawn to electricity poles," Claessens explains. "We often overlook them, but they're crucial points of transmission. With their verticality, they reach out to space and the future. I also appreciate their aesthetics." These large constructions have a light and delicate character. Her display pays homage to electricity poles. Drawings and designs showcase her exploration of forms and through her video work, she portrays animated electricity poles, imbuing them with a human-like quality as the connections between the poles move as if they're dancing. She is also exhibiting sculptures of electricity poles on concrete pedestals. "Concrete is toxic," Claessens notes. "It's an example of something that offers numerous possibilities, but also creates problems. How do we deal with this material?" The rough and robust pedestals create a stark contrast with the neatly finished, light and fragile sculptures Claessens places on them. She also presents a few snow globes containing an electricity pole. We all know the snow globe as a typical souvenir around the world that reminds us of a particular place or event and holds emotional value.

 

 

 

Memories shape our identity, our past and our future. They give meaning and value to our lives. The need for recognition and appreciation is another characteristic of humanity. We want to be seen and remembered. How or what do I present to the outside world? Claessens showcases a model of an advertising block through which she promotes her work and exhibition. What we choose to show or not show contributes to our image. Winnie-World is a space filled with side projects, experiments, preliminary studies and research. "I’m showing projects that I’ve worked on alongside my practice or that I'm unsure about or are still under development." She exposes herself to vulnerability and reveals the uncertainties and failures that come with being an artist. On the other hand, we see dreams and desires that are yet to be fulfilled. She exhibits models for the set design she's creating for the music group Amatorski, which will soon go on tour with a new album. A kite design is intended for a large kite project to take place this summer at C-Mine in Genk.

As humans, we are also social beings, dependent on others for our well-being and survival. People form networks, share knowledge and experiences. There are lots of subcultures. "How do I relate to them? Where do I belong?" she wonders. Claessens enjoys curating exhibitions. She reaches out to her network and invites ten artists to collectively create a fictitious world exhibition. While she prefers to maintain control over her own work, she relinquishes it in the group exhibition. "I find it both surprising and exciting." In World-Expo, each artist showcases a pavilion. Each contribution is unique and remarkable, which also characterises humanity. Here, Claessens positions herself among her contemporaries. She asks them to contemplate their dreams and fears for the future. Where do they see the world heading?

A world exhibition brings together various aspects inherent to humanity. At a world exhibition, countries display their economic, social, cultural and technological developments. Each country profiles itself, aiming for a positive image and hoping to promote collaborations and trade. This international exhibition also serves as a platform to address global challenges. A world exhibition showcases progress, innovation and the diversity of developments in various fields. And it's a place to share stories and emotions and to build relationships. Humans are rational and emotional beings. Claessens recognises this. She seeks ways to stimulate our imagination and wonder. A notable example is her pavilion. An electricity pole serves as a structure for a slide leading into a pool. Knowledge, technology and entertainment intersect. "I love eccentric architecture that stimulates and keeps our imagination alive," she says. Architecture can be meaningless. Take, for example, the Nieuwe Zuid in Antwerp. The architecture is orderly and expensive, but nothing stands out. A world exhibition often showcases an architectural landmark that captures the memory of that moment in time. During my visit, I'm not worried about the future. I enjoy the moment and the encounter with the artworks. Winnie-Expo, Winnie-World and World-Expo pay homage to humanity. They demonstrate an acceptance of our qualities, possibilities, flaws and limitations that are all part of the adventure of life.

 

 

World-Expo featuring contributions from Anne Beumer, Kasper De Vos, Gilles Dusong, Fabrice Hofmans, Violette Potet, Arash Shahali, Hannelore Vandepoel, Arne Van De Mierop, Arthur Van de Velde and Wannes Verhees.