ARTONOV Festival

These words by the renowned Japanese ceramic artist Kanjiro Kawai, a key figure in the Mingei movement, serve as the guiding principle of the twelfth edition of the ARTONOV Festival. They express a fundamental conviction: creation never arises in isolation. It emerges from a living network of transmission, memories, shared gestures, and unseen presences. Every artistic act is shaped by what came before us—by people, materials, places, and traditions that continue to resonate in the present. In 2026, Belgium and Japan celebrate the 160th anniversary of their cultural and diplomatic relations. On this occasion, ARTONOV invites artists from both countries to explore new dialogues between heritage and contemporary creation. This edition examines how ancient forms, rituals, and collective memories can still generate transformative experiences today.