Michel Dewilde

With TraumA, the Triennial of Bruges dives into the ‘uncanny’ history and reality of Bruges. Historical layers are exposed, forgotten or hidden storylines discussed. This edition explores the thin line between dream and trauma, between paradise and hell. It appeals to the imagination, to the pomp and circumstance, but also to the ‘uncanny’ that is present underground. For although Bruges seems to be a dream destination for many, poverty, loneliness, pollution or fear also lurk in this picture-perfect world. Triennial Bruges 2021: TraumA uses artistic and architectural interventions to bring the less attractive aspects to the surface and make them part of the city’s image. It creates a polyphonic discourse, where there is room for imagination, beauty, darkness and complexity. A space where artists and architects can explore both the stage and the dusty wings. Triennial Bruges 2021: TraumA balances between the present and the hidden. With a course of sculptural, architectural and organic creations, it is a celebration of the versatility and mobility of this city. Between private and public. Between dream and nightmare. Text in English and Dutch.

The world is in transition. Established ideas and lifestyles are under pressure: everything is in flux. This volatility and ambivalence can lead to uncertainty and even fear. The 2018 Bruges Triennial: Liquid City offers a beacon of hope, presenting a fluid, open and engaged city; Bruges as an engine of social, cultural and political change; a creative melting pot for encounters of all kinds; and a breeding ground for urban innovation. The liquid city of Bruges - literally ringed by the water that once brought it prosperity and fame - becomes a metaphorical Liquid City, characterised by fluidity, transition, influx and exchange: a continuous artistic dynamism that at times flows gently and at others turbulently through the city. The 2018 Bruges Triennial: Liquid City invites internationally acclaimed artists and architects from around the world to interpret the 'Liquid City' theme. They create an art trail dotted with temporary hospitable spaces, conceptual representations and unexpected places for encounters within the historic city centre. Text in English and Dutch.