Koen Vanmechelen celebrated the power of children with ‘Day of the Cosmogolem’ on May 28, 2023
On 28 May, LABIOMISTA celebrates the power of children and young people with the ‘Day of the Cosmogolem’ – an international children’s rights celebration now in its 6th edition. Central is the Cosmogolem, the work of art that Koen Vanmechelen uses to generate support for children’s rights in local communities the world over. This edition’s main theme is ‘Figure of Speech’ (in Dutch: ‘Beeldspraak’). Its main question: What can images tell us?
Figure of Speech
The statues of Easter Island are not the only images that speak. The Cosmogolem, a figure by artist Koen Vanmechelen, also shoots off his big mouth on the Day of the Cosmogolem. He invites you to the children’s rights celebration.
On Sunday 28 May, LABIOMISTA is all about ‘Figure of Speech’. Because figures, statues, images: these are also means of communication. And they have a lot to tell us.
That day, LABIOMISTA will be buzzing with voices. All statues in the park will have something to say. Each will speak its own private language. Some will be very talkative, others will need all your encouragement to speak. So, keep your eyes – and especially your ears – wide open!
Sunday 28 May 2023
2-6pm (the park itself is open from 10am-7pm)
The winding path between the talking statues will be enlivened by an exciting programme for the young and curious at heart. Take a stroll with Meneer Zee (‘Mister Sea’) & Meneer Maan (‘Mister Moon’), immerse yourself in various workshops, and be seduced by the mysteries of Japanese story theatre. Take part in the Council of the Pretty Wise Kids (In Dutch: ‘de raad van de vies* wijze wijzen’), and eat and drink to your heart’s content at Nomadland.
The programma includes:
Musical story tours (2 pm – 2:45 pm and 3:15 pm – 4 pm)
Diverse workshops for kids on ‘speaking with images’ (2:45-3:20 pm and 4-4:40 pm)
Cosmogolem game (2 pm – 4:30 pm; continuous)
Kamishibai story theatre (2 pm – 4:30 pm; continuous)
Council of the Pretty Wise Kids (5 pm – 5:45 pm)
Open Studio Koen Vanmechelen (2 pm – 4:30 pm; continuous)
Serendipity Sound System (continuous)
Local food and drink stalls at Nomadland (11 am – 8:30 pm; continuous)
Money raised by this benefit event will go towards the international Cosmogolem vzw and local charity 'Het Vertelhuis' in Genk.
Subscribe or check detailed program on labiomista.be
Practical info
Dag van de Cosmogolem
Sunday 28 May 2023
13 – 18h (parc is open from 10 am until 19 pm)
Photos by Kris Vervaeke and Boumediene Belbachir
