Belgium’s C0NTOUR Biennial: A Celebration of Contemporary Audiovisual Arts

Since its inception in 2003, the Contour Biennial of Moving Images has carved out a unique niche in Belgium’s visual arts scene. Its influence and reputation have transcended national boundaries, earning it a prominent place in the international art world. The event has been organized and showcased by the kunstencentrum nona since 2017. The tenth edition, aptly named C0N10UR, is curated by Auguste Orts, a Brussels-based production and distribution platform spearheaded by artists Anouk De Clercq, Fairuz Ghammam, Herman Asselberghs, Manon de Boer, and Sven Augustijnen.

The biennial will feature screenings and weekend programs that enhance the exhibition with performing arts and live music. In a significant development, the tenth-anniversary edition of C0N10UR is set to expand beyond Mechelen. The argos centre for audiovisual arts in Brussels and Kunsthal Extra City in Antwerp have joined as cultural partners for the biennial.

The anniversary edition of C0N10UR aims to celebrate the rich contemporary Belgian audiovisual arts scene. It seeks to honor not just artists and filmmakers, but also production platforms and presentation venues. The curators have chosen to collaborate exclusively with artists residing in Belgium. By commissioning new film and video works that can continue to be appreciated beyond the biennial, C0N10UR aims to provide sustainable support and enrichment to the existing field.

The biennial does not adhere to a specific theme. Instead, Auguste Orts draws inspiration from its immediate surroundings: a dynamic ecosystem of artistic practices that are local yet transcend borders, limitless yet grounded. The title C0N10UR is borrowed from philosopher Rosi Braidotti’s restatement of Virginia Woolf’s concept of grounded mobility and the inherent potential for change: “We are rooted but we flow.” This motto also metaphorically refers to the viewing experience of a film audience that, while physically seated in front of the screen, can mentally and emotionally journey wherever the film takes them.

The opening weekend of the C0N10UR Biennial will take place across multiple locations: the argos centre for audiovisual arts in Brussels on September 6, Kunsthal Extra City in Antwerp on September 7, and various venues in Mechelen, including Cinema Lumière, De Garage, kunstencentrum nona, and Museum Hof van Busleyden, on September 8.

C0N10UR participating artists: Aay Liparoto, Alex Reynolds, Alexandre Mulongo Finkelstein, Alma Söderberg, Annik Leroy, Brahim Tall, Camille Picquot, Chloë Delanghe, Chloé Malcotti, Christina Stuhlberger, Dominique De Groen, Effi & Amir, Eitan Efrat, Elie Maissin, Eric de Kuyper, Eva Claus, Eva Giolo, Frederic Rzweski, Guy-Marc Hinant, Jan Rzewski, Julie Morel, Katja Mater, Léonard Pongo, Maaike Neuville, Maxime Jean-Baptiste, Melissa Gordon, Mieriën Coppens, Mischa Dols, Mohanad Yaqubi, Omar A. Chowdhury, Rebecca Jane Arthur, Rosine Mbakam, Sandra Muteteri Heremans, Sirah Foighel Brutmann, Stephane Ginsburgh, Subversive Film.