Lokaal 01, Antwerpen
The starting point for Artists by Night was the text How to Be an Artist by Night by Raqs Media Collective: “When art students graduate from their academies, they usually end up as ‘no collar’ workers in the industry by day, and artists, by night, in their dreams.” The common thread that runs through all the artworks is the theme of “the daily handling of objects”—a “thinking in things.” These creations were not primarily made to fit into the art industry, but rather emerge from the artists’ daily activities and surroundings. The practice of Guy Mees also served as a point of reference and source of inspiration for the artists. In the 1980s, alongside his artistic career, Mees ran a painting business. His series of baseboard installations from that time arose from his work as a house painter and wallpaper hanger.