COSMOGOLEM | Kunst in de Stad

COSMOGOLEM (VANMECHELEN KOEN)

The return of the Cosmogolem – an impressive work of art by the famous Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen – is being given a new lease of life in Sint-Niklaas thanks to Kunst in de Stad vzw.

This four-metre-high wooden sculpture, which symbolises children’s rights and diversity, was unveiled to great enthusiasm during the Peace Festivals in 2011. The Cosmogolem was given a place in the ‘birth forest’ in the Puitvoetbos, much to the delight of the children, who could convey their wishes and greetings to all the children of the world.

But after a few years, the giant fell into disrepair and disappeared from view and from public interest. Until, a short while ago, the good-natured figure came up again: where had he gone? Did he even still exist?

The answer to that question came from an unexpected source. Mopsus, the old Chow Chow, is neither playful nor adventurous by nature. But he is curious. His sense of smell is the basis of all his actions. This is how he ends up in the Puitvoetbos during a walk with Robert De Bock. He sniffs his way along paths and canals, past ponds and tree stumps. And amongst the bushes, through a dense deciduous forest and undergrowth, he stumbles upon a wooden sculpture, decorated with colourful children’s drawings. The giant lies there, badly battered and neglected. The ever-calm Mopsus barks at this unusual encounter. Indeed, the whole scene is impressive and evokes glorious days of the past.

No, this giant, child-friendly figure shall not be lost. Kunst in de Stad is throwing its weight behind the project. And thanks to the support of the city council and the technical skills of the VTS3 students, the giant will shine once more and bring joy to so many children. And Mopsus? He remains stoically calm, because, well… that’s just how Chow Chows are.

More than twenty years after Vanmechelen created the sculpture, it has grown into a global project, with sculptures in over 40 locations, from Poland, Chile, Pakistan, Mumbai, Zimbabwe, Belgium and the Netherlands to many other places.

The ultimate aim was to place Cosmogolems all over the world and create a network of organisations that actively promote human rights and stand up for minority groups, to give everyone the chance to dream and hope, across borders. The Cosmogolem symbolises children who need help, hope and courage in their lives. It forms a bridge between different cultures and conveys a message of tolerance and solidarity. Moreover, the wooden giant has a small hatch in place of his heart where he keeps secret messages, drawings, artwork, poems and writings from children.

And that brings us back to the philosophy behind the sculpture. We build the Cosmogolem from durable yet perishable materials. If you don’t look after it, it will perish. And the artist thinks that’s a good thing. People need to love it, because if you love it, you’ll look after it. So far, all the Cosmogolems are still standing. Except for two: one on the left bank in Antwerp and one in Sint-Niklaas.

Koen Vanmechelen is therefore delighted that the latter is being rebuilt.

More information about the concept and projects can be found at

https://www.cosmogolem.com/

It was decided to give the artwork a place in the new sports park

Currently the cosmogolem is almost finished but still lacks a head – location VTS3. Congratulations to the pupils and teachers of the woodworking department.

VANMECHELEN KOEN (°1965)

The Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen is an internationally renowned conceptual artist. Biocultural diversity is central to his groundbreaking work. In recent years, Vanmechelen has collaborated with scientists from various disciplines on this theme. These cross-disciplinary projects earned him an honorary doctorate from Hasselt University in 2010 and the Golden Nica Hybrid Art in 2013.

Koen Vanmechelen is best known for his ‘Cosmopolitan Chicken Project’ (CCP). A unique artistic project he launched in the late 1990s. This project centres on the chicken and, more specifically, the cross-breeding of national chicken breeds to create ‘cosmopolitan chickens’.

Vanmechelen’s work has been exhibited on virtually every continent and in many countries, from the US to China and from Senegal to Iceland. In Belgium, he has exhibited at venues including the Verbeke Foundation, Watou, Museum M and Z33.

Since 2017, Vanmechelen has been based at LABIOMISTA; a vast park in Genk (Belgium) where, amidst grand architecture and natural landscape installations, works of art and animals of the most diverse kinds coexist. LABIOMISTA embodies Vanmechelen’s artistic and philosophical vision, born of a belief in art as a catalyst for mutual understanding and as a guide in the search for answers to the great challenges of the 21st century, the relationship between nature and culture, and in particular the development of sustainable communities.

The Cosmogolem is a structure that came into being in an unguarded moment when he was 17