Karel Burssens et Jeroen Verrecht
Untitled

source: designboom
in the water surrounding the ancient castle of horst in belgium, 88888 studio — the collaboration of karel burssens and jeroen verrecht — have sculpted into the earth, forming an unexpected, abstract interruption in the natural landscape. as part of the horst arts and music festival, 88888 presents ‘untitled’, a rectangular shaped hole which borders the water’s surface. the unfamiliar aspect of this hollow space is exaggerated as it cuts through the water, giving the impression of being an unnatural, near impossible scenario.

the pond that surrounds the sculpture limits its accessibility to visitors, creating an experience that remains almost exclusively on a visual level. standing on the shore, the sculpture’s depth, material and construction method remain unclear, reinforcing curiosity as a main thematic element.

by night, the dark hole turns into a white, luminous element within a vast shadowy surface. the lights, invisibile to viewers, set seemingly at the bottom of the hole, define a certain, but unclear activity within the area.
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source: office88888
88888 is the duo Karel Burssens and Jeroen Verrecht. They share a general interest in spatial conditions and establish this in a practice of installation art, scenography, architecture and photography. Together or separate, they work on several international projects in the worlds of museums, fashion, contemporary dance and architecture. Their expertise grew on both conceptual and productional levels, the broad interests and experience nurturing mutually.

In projects, a research on the experience and use of space is unfold. The spatial and contextual play a crucial, defining role. 88888 searches consciously and unconsciously for assignments within such a specific context. The artistic research consists of measuring the relevance of form, typology, physicality and materiality, but evenso the void, the absence of intervention within this context. This relevance is defined again and unconditioned for each project. The contribution is questioned continuously during development, until the moment the answer on it is irrevocable.