The return of the Biennale Art & Plant

From June 27, the City of Giants will don its greenery for a new edition of Biennale Art & Végétal. Organized by the Maison Culturelle of Ath, in close collaboration with the Espaces Verts department of the City of Ath, this contemporary sculpture trail, which has been transforming the historic center since 2009, invites visitors to rediscover urban heritage through the prism of creation and nature. An artistic exploration in the heart of the city More than just an exhibition, Art & Végétal is a sensory experience where art is in constant dialogue with its environment. The route reveals bucolic alleys and unsuspected gardens, highlighting the work of artists who combine nature and contemporary creation. Alongside the ten permanent works that evolve with the seasons, three new installations join the itinerary this summer, with an emphasis on young Belgian creation. Sophie Dupont, from the ARTS2 Mons Sculpture workshop, reinvents Promenade Roi Baudouin, the space located near the old fire station. Sophie is inspired by the circulation of sap to evoke the invisible links that connect nature and city. Entre la Dendre and urban layouts, the work brings two essential flows into dialogue: that of water and that of human life. A leaf collects rain, then returns it to the earth, revealing a simple and vital cycle. Céleste Schwartz, from the ARBA - ESA sculpture workshop (Brussels), occupies Passerelle Lina, the cycle-pedestrian link between Boulevard du Château and the Quai des Usines. Céleste is inspired by insect exoskeletons to create tubular structures between metal and lightness. Evoking the chrysalis and transformation, the installation brings architecture and living things into dialogue and invites a new look at this passageway. Finally, at Impasse Maroille, the participants of the CEC Ruée vers l’Art, accompanied by Marion Fabien, propose a ceramic fresco as a sensitive map of the city. Installed on the stone wall, the fresco breathes an organic presence into this mineral space. A collective landscape, shaped by the gazes and gestures of each person. A rich and participatory summer agenda While the trail is freely accessible 365 days a year, the summer will be punctuated by occasional events for all audiences: festive inauguration on June 27; vegetable dyeing workshops for adults or to do as a duo with children; thematic walks, offering a dual perspective between horticulture and contemporary art; or even a free visit mixing History and Contemporary Art as part of Journées du Patrimoine. Maps detailing the Biennale route, as well as game booklets designed for children, are available for free at Office de Tourisme and the Palace of Ath. The complete agenda of activities is available at www.artetvegetal.be.