2013, site-specific installation of videos and photos
Commissioned for a vacant nineteenth century chapel of
Scheppersinstituut, Wetteren (BE)
In collaboration with photographer Maarten Van den Bossche
and costume designer Leentje Kerremans
The explosions in the gunpowder factory Cooppal made several victims in the nineteenth century. Nearby the plant, an orphanage with a monastery was established on the banks of a now closed river branch. The children of deceased workers were given care and education in the so-called Scheppersinstituut (Creator Institute). Later, children of local skippers were also welcomed.
Inspired by the spaces and atmosphere of these sites, we went looking for past remnants. Our collaboration resulted in a parcours of photos and videos on location, in which the “Poudrerie Cooppal” and the orphanage (now a school building) is evoked in a different way.