Koen Vanmechelen: We Thought We Were Alone

“We Thought We Were Alone” presents 40 new sculptures and installations that explore the relationship between living organisms and the inorganic environment. Moving beyond human-centred perspectives, the exhibition examines themes of crossbreeding, hybridity, and identity within the context of a “Cosmopolitan Renaissance”. The works occupy three floors of a historical structure, which serves as a structural element of the project, mirroring themes of repair and reinvention.

The artist utilizes materials such as bronze, marble, glass, photography, and video to create a dialogue between past and future. Classical statuary, including reinterpretations of “Medusa” and “The Three Graces”, is presented alongside various animal forms to interconnect biology and culture. The exhibition challenges human exceptionalism, suggesting that survival relies on reciprocity and hybridity rather than conquest.

A dedicated room explores the “Wild Gene Festival”, a collaborative project with musician Youssou N’Dour. This section features videos of a 2025 performance that combined live music with the real-time painting of a nine-metre canvas. The project emphasizes community and collective creativity, positioning art as a force for social and biological transformation.