The Fen-fire - De gloeiige

Rotterdam artist Erik van Lieshout returns to his birthplace: the former peatlands of the Deurnese Peel. The internationally renowned artist spent eight months in the area with the support of the Noordbrabants Museum. He created installations there that reflect on the history, present and future of the Brabant countryside.

On the poor soils around Deurne, all sorts of issues are at stake that are also hot topics in national politics: intensive livestock farming, nitrogen, immigration, housing shortage, stench nuisance, nature management. Van Lieshout strolls across farms with childlike enthusiasm and enters into conversation with local residents. With his uninhibited questions, he is able to broach numerous issues and sore points. Surprisingly enough, no one seems to get angry with him.

Van Lieshout smoothly navigates – constantly delivering playful jabs – between farmers in trouble, concerned citizens, the occasional big earner. And then there is the vet who wants to focus on breeding rabbits to extract serums against snakebites. In the Van Lieshout universe, everything is inspiration, resulting in sand carpets, egg chains or a giant rabbit made of hay.