Drawing from seemingly endlessly proliferating word sequences—which arise from a single word through a simple rule and through association—Veva Leye creates montages that present the same words in completely different ways. Uncannily coagulating, these word images expand and contract in an accordion-like movement. A similar rhythm characterizes Jelle Martens’ (photo)graphic registrations that combine fragments, reproductions and trivial observations into layered prints and drawings. Every print layer, every drawing operates as a temporary frame bringing together images that only temporarily solidify, overlap, and fall apart again. Image and language tumble along, stumble upon. Letters form words form images reading looking.

Tsunagu つなぐ is Japanese for ‘to connect’, and you can take that quite literally during this workshop. You’ll be connecting with your hands, with wood, with light and with the creators behind the design.

Volmaakt’s Tsunagu lighting collection, developed in collaboration with Dirk van Gogh’s team, blends sleek Japanese design with the craftsmanship of our local social economy. The secret? Sipo wood and clever wood joints without a single drop of glue or screw. Made to last a lifetime.

After a brief explanation from Dirk about the story behind the collection, you’ll roll up your sleeves. You’ll get your hands on the wooden joints and set to work alongside the designer: building, sketching and experimenting. You’ll immediately sense how material, light and form come together.

Directions to Bar Edward

Tucked away in the shadow of the Vrijdagmarkt, on the banks of the River Leie, lies the stunning pop-up venue ‘Bar Edward’.

After an impressive 120-year history as a bakery for the people, a printing works, a community clinic and a cultural and political secretariat, the owner, COOP, temporarily handed over the keys to this site to Trefpunt. Thus, Speldenstraat 1 became a place for doing and thinking, a crossroads between culture, wellbeing and social enterprise.