What an honour to spend some time at LABIOMISTA, talking to its founder Koen Vanmechelen about his pioneering work at the interface of art, science and nature. I attended the inauguration of the Future Garden, an energy-efficient complex on the 24-hectare park on the site of an abandoned zoo and former mine in the city of Genk.
LABIOMISTA is a labour of love for Vanmechelen, an esteemed Belgian artist who has exhibited worldwide but never lost sight of his hometown of Genk, a beautiful city in the Belgian countryside. LABIOMISTA wouldn’t have been possible without the belief in the power of art, nature and community of Genk’s foreword-thinking Mayor Wim Dries, who entrusted the artist with the regeneration of the wild land which was once the site of a zoo he visited as a young boy.
Koen Vanmechelen:
Local communities are crucial in the pursuit of more symbiotic societies. In meetings and research, local knowledge is enriched by global perspectives and vice versa. This cross-fertilization can lead to incubators for sustainable local initiatives.
Mayor Wim Dries:
We are developing LABIOMISTA not only as a site within the park but also beyond its gates. Through experiments and events, we aim to gather new insights and establish concrete practices for coexisting with one another and with nature. This initiative facilitates the ongoing transformation of the Genk-North district, grounded in connecting narrative and opportunities presented by LABIOMISTA. Together with the community, we are crafting an innovative, sustainable and accessible development plan. One such project is Mixed Menu. Previously we launched the Mixed Menu Kiosk, a hands-on activation initiative for young people and local residents seeking work of wanting to engage with the neighbourhood. Another example is Nomadland, featuring allotments, picnic areas, and open spaces for events.
Vanmechelen has spent the past 5 years regenerating the land and creating a vast natural habitat for endangered species including Black Storks, Zebra, dromedaries and emus.
A constantly evolving living artwork where animals and nature meet humanity, LABIOMISTA is Vanmechele’s life project, an evolving artwork situated on the site of the former Zwartberg (Genk) zoo. The 24-hectare park where animals roam around and Vanmechelen’s sculptures and artworks are exhibited, is a place where visitors can experience nature and art.
LABIOMISTA houses Vanmechelen’s studio (The Battery) and an adjacent aviary housing rare species of birds, both designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta.
LABIOMISTA is more than an artistic experiment, it’s a place where the community can experience nature and children can learn about wildlife and science, and Vanmechelen created a lake-side park called Nomadland on the edge of LABIOMISTA where local people can enjoy nature and grow food on allotments.
The Future Garden at LABIOMISTA opened to the public on 25th August, with a free open-air classical concert. Future Garden will serve as a catalyst for further developments in the surrounding neighbourhood. A concept initiated by Vanmechelen and OpUnDi Genk called LaVieBreede involves efforts to integrate, revitalize and strengthen the area around LABIOMISTA.
Vanmechelen designed the Future Garden complex with a mastabas-like structure accessed via a bridge overlooking pastures where a pair of rare Tapirs roam. The complex houses a research laboratory and workspace developed by the artist in partnership with Hasselt University and leading scientists including Dr Willem Omelet, Dr Philip Remans, and Vanmechelen’s social entrepreneur wife – Chido Govern – founder of The Future of Hope and a pioneer in the research of fungi in the field of sustainable development.
A new model of ecological complex and laboratory, Future Garden will function as a hub for research and discussion around the intersection between humanity with technology and nature. With LABIOMISTA and Future Garden, Vanmechelen is redefining the concept of art. More than an artist, Vanmechelen is a pioneer who has created an entirely new genre of art that sits at a crossroads between science, sculpture, nature and anthropology.
For more information visit: labiomista.be/en
