3 April 2024, 13:46 (CEST)

The Crystal Ship brings 14 international artists to Ostend

Ostend arts festival The Crystal Ship is gearing up for a new edition, taking place from 25 March to 6 April. The festival presents an impressive line-up of 14 international artists who will further transform the streets of Ostend into an open-air museum. With artists like Case Maclaim, Hoxxoh and KMG, it promises to be another very colourful edition.

Every year, The Crystal Ship manages to attract a diverse group of artists, and this year is no exception. The selected artists will share their unique take on the world through striking murals and installations. The festival is known for bringing art to the people, for both locals and visitors.

We are delighted to welcome a new edition of The Crystal Ship and look forward to the creative energy that will flood the city. With 14 talented artists who will bring the streets of Ostend to life for almost two weeks, art lovers of all ages will enjoy an extraordinary experience. Mayor of Ostend Bart Tommelein.

With the theme 'Carnival of Life', the street art festival draws plenty of James Ensor's card.

I looked for artists who have a link, subtle or otherwise, with the painter's work, or at least with the theme. Like Ensor, they do not all have to kick the shins of the establishment in a funny, clever way. The works they create may also be carnivalesque, festive and rock 'n' roll. Which, of course, does not mean that social, socially critical quips are certainly appreciated. Bjørn Van Poucke, curator of the festival

In fact, for the first time in the history of The Crystal Ship, Van Poucke calls on a co-curator: Carlo McCormick. The American critic experienced the height of the New York art and music scene in the 70s and 80s - he knew Keith Haring, Sonic Youth and Lydia Lunch personally. He has also been a huge admirer of James Ensor since childhood. For his 18th birthday in the late 1970s, he was able to convince his parents to buy him a plane ticket to Belgium so that he could visit an exhibition of the master's work here.

The festival will officially launch on 25 March, offering fans the opportunity to see the artists at work as they create their masterpieces. Various side activities will also be organised, including debates and workshops. The Crystal Ship encourages everyone to participate in this celebration of creativity and art in public spaces. On Saturday, 6 April, all artworks will be finished.

Line-up

The full line-up for this edition includes Case Maclaim (DE), KMG (UK), Dulk (ES), En Plein Public (BE), Hoxxoh (USA), Hera (DE), Katie Green (CA), Marina Capdevilla (ES), Pixel Pancho (IT), Wayne Horse (DE), Motel7 (ZA), Carlos Sugliano (AR), Jaune (BE) and Ilke Cop (BE). The latter will experiment for the first time with painting a mural in the Brussels artist's well-known style. As part of Ensor2024, Jaune will paint miniature scenes from The Baths of Ostend, each with a contemporary touch.

Cape Town and Ostende

South Africa's Cape Town also hosts a street art festival with which The Crystal Ship has set up an exchange. This year, it is the artist Motel7 who makes the move to Ostend to create a work here. In addition, for the first time an artist from Ostende will also work on a wall. This also promises to be a great collaboration with the partner city on the other side of the world.

Activities

Workshop Katie Green X SPINAAS

In a collaboration between Katie Green and Spinaas (the creative label of Duinhelm vzw and Briek vzw), a workshop will be organised. This workshop will offer participants with disabilities the chance to get creative over three days by making a mask. The workshop will be followed by a photo shoot, during which one of these masks will be selected to be elaborated by Katie Green on a façade with wheatpaste.

Juxtapoz meet the artist

On 5 April 2024, everyone is welcome to O.666 to meet this year's street artists. During a live panel, moderated by Doug Gillen of Juxtapoz, you will also have the chance to ask questions of the artists present. The event will kick off with a talk by Carlo McCormick on James Ensor and Belgian art.

Locatie per artiest

1. Caco - Taboralaan 7 ( 30/03 - 06/04 )

2. Case Maclain - Blauwkasteelstraat ( 02/04 - 05/04 )

3. Dulk - Station Oostende ( 04/04 - 06/04 )

4. En Plein Public - verschillende locaties ( 31/03 - 04/04 )

5. Falko Fantastic - Torhoutsesteenweg 440 ( 31/03 - 03/04 )

6. Hera - Generaal Jungblutlaan 4 ( 02/04 - 05/04 )

7. Hoxxoh - Buskruitstraat ( 29/03 - 04/04 )

8. Ilke Cop - Dokter Verhaeghestraat 126 ( 31/03 - 05/04 )

9. Jaune - verschillende locaties ( 03/04 - 06/04 )

10. Katie Green - Lijndraaiersstraat 60 ( 24/03 - 06/04

11. KMG - Dokter Edouard Moreauxlaan + Kaïrostraat( 31/03 - 05/04 )

12. Marina Capdevila - Prinses Stefanieplein 63 ( 31/03 - 04/04 )

13. Motel7 - Golvenstraat 10 ( 27/03 - 06/04 )

14. Pixelpancho - Werkzaamheidstraat 32 ( 31/03 - 04/04 )

About The Crystal Ship

The Crystal Ship is an annual arts festival that brings international artists to Ostend to transform the city into a vibrant art gallery. Since its inception, the festival has tackled more than 100 walls, ranging from large surfaces to small interventions.