With Firesong for the bees, a tree of clay, Mariana Castillo Deball unites bees and the history of beehives in an architectural, sculptural installation in the Sebrechtspark. The artwork emanates from the archaeology of beekeeping: the ceramic references beekeeping traditions before wooden beehives were introduced in 1852. Firesong for the bees, a tree of clay brings together ceramic beehives from different historical and geographical contexts.
The workshop aims to highlight the different facets of the artwork. We do this by means of three activities, for young and old alike.
Read more about Firesong for the bees, a tree of clay here.
Mariana Castillo Deball in-conversation with Aladin Borioli
Join us this Saturday for a special in-conversation between Mariana Castillo Deball and Aladin Borioli. Together, they will shine new light on the life of an object that has come to symbolise the relation between human and bees: the beehive. The conversation takes as a starting point apiculture traditions that preceded beekeeping in wooden hives, a change in technology that was a double-edged sword. The introduction of standardised wooden beehives in 1852 made harvesting the honey easier, but brought 4,000 years of diversity in hive shapes, materials and decorations to an end.
Introduced by co-curator Sevie Tsampalla, the conversation unpacks the research that informs Mariana Castillo Deball’s contribution to Spaces of Possibility.
→ Learn more about the speakers at the bottom of this page.
Practical
- Saturday 20.07.2024, from 15:00 to 17:00
- Discussion between Mariana Castillo Deball and Aladin Borioli: from 16:00 to 17:00
- In English
- Free of charge
- In the Professor Dr. J. Sebrechtspark
Meet the beekeepers and their bees
At the top of the work are three wooden beehives with three bee colonies. These are tended weekly by Biesous: a young beekeeping couple from the area. They will stay for the whole afternoon to answer any questions about bees, beekeeping, honey spinning, and so on. At two set times, they also talk about their vision of beekeeping, and the challenges they face. Moreover, they offer the public a hands-on introduction to different beekeeping tools, and even different kinds of honey.
Practical
- Saturday 20.07.2024, from 14:00 to 17:00
- Talks at 14:30, 15:30
- For all ages: beekeepers Margot and Uther adapt their explanations to each specific audience
- Free of charge
- In the Professor Dr. J. Sebrechtspark
- In Dutch
Ceramics workshop with Tamboeri vzw
Ceramics, and how ceramic objects were used in the past and today, are an important part of Mariana Castillo Deball’s work. Together with her team, the artist made all the ceramic structures in her Berlin studio. She drew inspiration for this from the ceramic beehives that were predominately used in the Mediterranean region until around a hundred years ago. During this workshop, you set to work with the raw materials yourself under the expert guidance of Elise Vanhoecke.
Practical
- Saturday 20.07.2024, from 14:00 to 17:00
- For all ages
- Free of charge
- In the Professor Dr. J. Sebrechtspark
- In Dutch
About Mariana Castillo Deball
In her research-driven and interdisciplinary practice, Mariana Castillo Deball often examines how the cultural and functional significance of objects changes over time. Taking shape through collaborations with archeologists, anthropologists, artisans, scientists or museums, her work shines new light on marginalized or forgotten knowledge, decentering dominant linear historical narratives. For her work in Bruges, she delved into archives, visited local apiaries and collaborates with Biesous, Margot Hinnekens and Uther Smis, who care for the bees during and after the exhibition.
About Aladin Borioli
In his extended research project Bannkörbe, Aladin Borioli works with bee researchers, scientists, collectors, and apiarists, using artistic research to explore the sociohistorical, political, and ecological relationship between humans and all species of bees. This is one of many subprojects of Apian, a collaborative entity Borioli initiated, intended as an ever-expanding and ongoing archive that operates as a “ministry of bees”. His book HIVES, 2400 B.C.E. – 1852 C.E. contains archival material and photos of beehives from different historical and geographical contexts and was a source of inspiration for Mariana Castillo Deball’s artwork in Bruges.