The old brick kiln (a deserted ring oven) is owned by the Hove family, who have a similar brick kiln still at work in close-by Ninove. The oven in Ninove is one of the three brick kilns left in Flanders that work according to traditional methods. The oven in Sint-Lievens-Esse was taken out of use in the 1980’s. However, the building is exceptionally well-preserved and is, together with the surrounding land, leased by Arpia vzw. The old brick kiln symbolizes the age-old relationship between man and landscape as bricks were produced there with clay from the near surroundings.
Not only the artist, but also the visitor, the farmer, the researcher, the ecologist, the historian and all other people who have a relationship with the landscape and its surroundings are involved in the project. Arpia vzw takes its departure from the idea that the landscape consists of different layers. Art in or with the landscape is a way or means to look at the landscape. It enables us – if we are willing to- to see the different layers and values. Thanks to or because of the freedom of the artist who gets to work with the surroundings, the landscape is automatically presented in a multiple way.
