Underneath Which Rivers Flow
‘One day, a large banner suddenly appeared on the facade of the Decoratelier, showing a virtual vision of what the neighbourhood might look like in the future. The studio and its surroundings had been replaced by a large park. That same day, I met a group of people from Globe Aroma and we decided to dig a hole towards this future park that, right now, is still an old factory. In the enormous void we taught each other to build out loud: a form of construction in which there is no difference between speaking, dreaming and building. Gradually an alternative park took shape, a park where memories and imagination intermingle, a secret garden filled with shadows and a jumble of grey zones. As yet I understand little of it, but it seems to be a place where people can decide for themselves whether or not to be visible or invisible, and this in the heart of the city.’ – JOZEF WOUTERS
For a year, Decoratelier Jozef Wouters worked with Open Arts House Globe Aroma on Underneath Which Rivers Flow. A group of women and men – builders, poets and dreamers – met weekly in the Decoratelier in Molenbeek. Together, they built stories, a secret garden full of wormholes to unsuspected worlds. Underneath Which Rivers Flow was selected for the TheaterFestival 2019, and is now opening this Kaaitheater season.
• The socio-artistic workplace Globe Aroma enables people to learn about the richness of other people’s cultures and creates opportunities for refugees and newcomers with artistic ambitions. Decoratelier is a project in constant development by scenographer Jozef Wouters. From old industrial buildings in Brussels, he launches various projects in collaboration with a heterogeneous group.
a project by Globe Aroma & Decoratelier Jozef Wouters | building poets Barry Ahmad Talib, Ali Alkrizi, Mimouna Amri, Mbarek Bouallaga, Zohir Boumelha, Sekou Coumbassa, Chantal Gyselinx, Idris Hassan Hardi, George Khuroshvili, Bushra Lamsyeh, Soumaya Mahroug, Shilemeza Prins, Randy Renders, Tahar Sadam, Marie-Ange Sibi, Ifrah Yusuf Magan | artistic direction Jozef Wouters | artistic collaborator Jeroen Peeters | dramaturgy Vladimir Miller | decoratelier Menno Vandevelde (technical director), Lukas Geerens, Jan Rymenants, Willem Rys, Koen Schetske, Vic Van den Bossche, Siemen Van Gaubergen, Casper van Overschee | film Robbrecht Desmet | light Michiel Soete | sound in collaboration with Vincent Malstaf | production management Penelope Desloovere, Brecht Theunis, Camille Thiry, Ewoud Vermote | production Damaged Goods, Globe Aroma | co-production Kaaitheater, Netwerk Aalst | special thanks to Saïd Amrawu, Alex Cepile | thanks to Thomas Collier, Wannes Cré, Philip Delbecque, Pieter Dumoulin, Marlies Jacques, Sirine Jen, Lila John, Sanae Khamlichi, Ferre Marnef, Hana Miletić, Kristof Vande Walle (M – Museum Leuven), Sarah Vanhee, Nathanael Van Hoecke, De Lork vzw, Gemeente Molenbeek, L’Escaut Architectures, WijkAntenne de Quartier
