"Man made chickens successful through diversity, now we can learn from them." Koen Vanmechelen
Koen Vanmechelen launched his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project (CCP) during the late nineties. Central to this art project is a chicken crossbreeding project. More specifically, the artist interbreeds domestic chickens from different countries aiming at the creation of true cosmopolitan chicken as a symbol for global diversity.
The project occupies a unique place in art history and gained fast international recognition. It positions art categorically in the middle of society: between people, and always committed. Vanmechelen is using a diverse range of media to translate the core idea of the CCP to our society, from very expressive paintings and drawings, to photography, video, glassware, performances and sculpture. The unifying theme is the chicken and the egg, symbols that link scientific, political, philosophical and ethical issues.
Cosmopolitan Chicken Project worldwide
Cosmopolitan Chicken Project photo gallery
Cosmopolitan Chicken Project news
Koen Vanmechelen wins Golden Nica
It is with great proud that we can announce that Koen Vanmechelen wins a Golden Nica with his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project. He wins this year’s Golden Nica of The Prix Ars Electronica in the category Hybrid Art for his pioneering work at the intersection of art, science, technology and research. Previous winners of this price, also known as the Oscars of Media Art, are famous artists like Joe Davis (USA), Stelarc (Aus) and Eduardo Kac (US).
Koen Vanmechelen at the United Nations’ International day of Happiness at Bozar (BE)
Last year the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 March as the International Happiness Day in the belief that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal.
Infinity – C.C.P., Sint-Trudo Hospital, Sint-Truiden (BE)
Art heals, spoke Florence Nightingale, and it collaborates with science in the care for us humans. For this reason, the Sint-Trudo Hospital of Sint-Truiden commissioned artist Koen Vanmechelen to create an artwork in honour of the opening of their new building. The result is one of hope and unremitting energy; Infinity – C.C.P.
Koen Vanmechelen donates work to Kunst tegen Kanker (art against cancer)
In 2012, Inge Faes set up her own campaign against cancer. Within the framework of Kom op tegen Kanker, she solicited several Flemish artists to donate a work for an art auction.
For other articles, go to archive
Cosmopolitan Chicken Project agenda
For the next edition of documenta curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev invited Koen Vanmechelen with his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project for one of the most important expo’s in the world. Documentation from this project will be part of ‘The Worldly House'; an archive inspired by Donna Haraway’s writings on multi-species co-evolution compiled and presented by Tue Greenfort and part of dOCUMENTA (13)
Location: 187, Karlsaue Parc
dOCUMENTA (13)
9/6 – 16/9 2012
Kassel (DE)
Between October 7th and December 16th Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen will fight his own work and the Teutonic Order in the double exhibition COMBAT. Main location is the Landcommandery of Alden Biesen, artgallery De Mijlpaal in Heusden-Zolder, by Lut Maris, is the second location.
Koen Vanmechelen is invited by the Nanjing Agricultural University to give a lecture about the Open University of Diversity and his projects.
Koen Vanmechelen's works Moments of Fame and 30-02-2010 will be presented at Art Platform - Los Angeles by Amstel Gallery, an artgallery in Amsterdam. The second edition of Art Platform - Los Angeles, a fair for modern and contemporary art, takes place in the Barker Hanger, next to the Santa Monica Airport.
B-Classic - Festival van Vlaanderen presents Stef Kamil Carlens (Zita Swoon Group) en Ludo Mariën in COMBAT with Koen Vanmechelen.
Open air concert
11 december 2012
7.30 PM
Entrance: 25 euro
Reserve your ticket via ticket@b-classic.be
tickets at the door on 11/12; from 6.30 PM
Dress warmly and bring your blanket!
Location:
Landcommandery Alden Biesen
Kasteelstraat 6
3740 Bilzen
www.combat-koenvanmechelen
Koen Vanmechelen is selected with his work 'Forever - C.C.P. for the exhibition BONES by LABO. It will be on display in CIAP (Hasselt) from October 12 till October 28.
Koen Vanmechelen is asked to speak at the Informal Summit in Ghent.
At the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its fertility clinic AZ Groeninge presents an artproject with the egg as focal point. Throughout the city of Kortrijk, painted eggs of 50 cm height are on display. Afterwards, on November 24, they will be auctioned and the benefit goes to The Walking Egg Project of Koen Vanmechelen and prof. dr. Willem Ombelet.
start of a new campagne of Bond zonder Naam; Eenzaamheid
Koen Vanmechelen is invited to give a lecture, this monday December 17 at Tori Oso (Paramaribo).
On March 16, CVO VSPW-Hasselt organises 'Het Appèl van de Kip, an evening where art and gastronomy meet. Enjoy lectures from Koen Vanmechelen and Piet Stockman, between the culinary meals.
BRAFA
The 58th Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair takes place for the tenth time in the huge halls of Tour & Taxis. 122 art dealers are representing many different countries such as Italy, France, Great Britain and Belgium. Guy Pieters Gallery presents works of Koen Vanmechelen (Boot 46).
You can visit this internationally acknowledged art fair from 19- 27 January 2013.
Location: Tour & Taxis, Havenlaan 86 C, B-1000 Brussel.
Date and opening hours: Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 January 2013 daily from 11 am to 7 pm
Late opening on Tuesday 22 and Thursday 24 January until 10 pm
Uitgelezen is a yearly book program where prominent book lovers read a selection of novels and share their findings with the public. The tenth edition of Uitgelezen takes place January 29 in the Vooruit in Ghent and features artist Koen Vanmechelen and director Alain Platel as guests.
Together with hostess Fien Sabbe and panellists Anna Luyten and Jos Geysels they discuss ‘Berichten uit Homs’ by Jonathan Littell, ‘Maanstorm’ by Antonio Munoz Molina and ‘Kikkers’ by Noble prize winner Mo Yan.
During this evening you can also enjoy music of Geike, a poetry reading by Charles Ducal and see previews of the comic ‘t Van Beversplein, the new unpublished work of Arne Sierens.
This edition fits in the framework of the Dag van de cultuureducatie, with as theme Lopend VUUR: meesterschap en engagement, which features a lecture from Koen Vanmechelen.
Free entrance, but limited seats. So be there early.
More information: http://vooruit.be/nl/event/3283?genre=literatuur
Location: Theaterzaal Vooruit
Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23
9000 Ghent
From January 25 until April 14 Koen Vanmechelen presents his work ‘The Walking Egg’, a mixed media installation, at Transformation, the fifth group exposition in Garage Rotterdam. The installation consists out of lambda prints of the magazine Facts, Views & Visions with works of Koen Vanmechelen and contains abstracts of scientific papers, video and a golden egg with an impossible date.
The exposition features, besides Vanmechelen, other artists such as Floris Kaayk, Jeroen Kuster and many more. The artists share a fascination with life, death and its controllability. They use scientific developments and personal motivations as a foundation for their art.
The group exposition ‘L’origine de l’œuvre’ opens on Tuesday February 7 at 6 pm. Koen Vanmechelen presents his works ‘Symbiosis – C.C.P.’ and ‘Hybridity in Art and Science – C.C.P.’. The latter was first presented at dOCUMENTA (13) in Kassel, an exposition Koen Vanmechelen was proud to be a part of. Lieux Communs is a contemporary art platform who’s objective is to bring art to common places. This time the exposition takes place in the Walloon parliament.
On the 13th of February, the exhibition ‘Cultural Freedom in Europe’ opens its doors in Brussels. This group expo with 29 artists from all around Europe is part of Europe (to the power)-n, a project of the Excellence Initiative of the Goethe-institute.
After his contribution to the ‘Scenarios about Europe’ expo at the GFZK in Leipzig in 2011, Koen Vanmechelen is now reselected by curator Filip Luyckx with his works ‘Pedigree – C.C.P.’, a complete pedigree of the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project and ‘Hybridity in Art & Science – C.C.P.’ which was also part of dOCUMENTA (13) in Kassel and is now simultaneously being shown at the Walloon parliament.
Vernissage 13th February 2013 / 5 P.M. Goethe Institut Brussel, Belliardstraat 58, 1040 Brussels, Belgium / 6.30 P.M. / The European Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions, Belliardstraat 99, 1040 Brussels.
Symposium on 14th February 2013 / 2 P.M. – 6 P.M. / JDE 52
Registration for the vernissage and the symposium is required.
Koen Vanmechelen is asked by Het Paleis to be a guest speaker at the 3rd Kinderkunstendag (Art day for children). On February 25, different artists, scientists, politician and policymakers like Jan Peumans, Bruno Vanobbergen, Chantal Pattyn, Monica de Coninck and others will speak about their vision on children and art.
Practical information;
Monday February 25, from 2 PM till 5 PM (lecture Koen Vanmechelen at 3h40 PM)
Het Paleis
Grote Zaal
Meistraat
2000 Antwerpen
More: www.kinderkunstendag.be
Gallery WassermanProjects in Detroit invited Koen Vanmechelen to give a lecture about his newest solo exhibition Inception – Cosmopolitan Chicken Project and the philosophy behind his project.
Gallery WassermanProjects in Detroit invited Koen Vanmechelen to give a lecture about his newest solo exhibition Inception – Cosmopolitan Chicken Project and the philosophy of his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project.
Gallery WassermanProjects in Detroit invited Koen Vanmechelen to give a lecture about his newest solo exhibition Inception – Cosmopolitan Chicken Project and the philosophy of his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project.
“Wherever the Cosmopolitan Chicken has landed, it invades and changes the dreams and perceptions of people who come to see it”, Koen Vanmechelen, January, 2013
Koen Vanmechelen is invited by WassermanProjects for the inaugural exhibition at their new gallery in Detroit (Michigan, US). WassermanProjects opens on February 1 with Vanmechelens newest solo exhibition Inception – Cosmopolitan Chicken Project.
The 10th edition of Beelden op de Berg, titled (Re)source, revolves around authenticity and manipulation. The setting is the Arboretum in Wageningen. The scientific tree garden plays an important role in this exhibition. (Re)source explores the values involving the scientific character of this arboretum and searches for societal relevance and artistic originality. Curator Koos Flinterman chose Koen Vanmechelen’s landscape installation Modified Spaces, a gigantic cage that shelters the Red Jungle Fowl, the ancestor of all chicken races because of its perfect fit in this exposition where art and science meet.
Vera Vermeersch, tapestry weaver, will present her work in the cultural centre of Hasselt. Most of them are contemporary carpets that are being tufted in her studio and are designed by Belgian and international artists, designers and architects. For this exposition Vermeersch transformed one of Vanmechelen's works, Tabula Rasa, into a magnificent tapestry.
The exposition Vrouwenkuren organised by the department IPSOC of the university college KATHO in cooperation with the Dr. Ghislain museum in Ghent, runs until the 26thof April.
This exposition wants to question the debate of the position of women in psychiatry now and in the past. Koen Vanmechelen contributes to this exposition with his new work Frantic – C.C.P. A work based on the psychology and anthropology of the interaction between men and women.
Gallerija Kapelica’s invitation brought Koen Vanmechelen to the 17th crossing in the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project.
In cooperation with the University of Ljubljana, Koen decided to mix the brave and temperamental characteristics of the Slovenian Styrian hen with the Mechelse Senegal. The Styrian hen is a breed originated from the Styria region in Austria and Slovenia and faced extinction several times.
After his last solo in 2009, ConnerSmith re-invites Koen Vanmechelen with a solo exhibition in their renewed spaces. Under the title ‘Leaving Paradise’ the Belgian artist will present mainly new work that focuses on his collaborations with scientists combined with work from dOCUMENTA (13).
For the second time in a row, Koen Vanmechelen participates in the International Sculpture Route Amsterdam; ArtZuid. This year Henk van Os, professor of Art and Society at the University of Amsterdam and former director of the Rijksmuseum, has been chosen to select the sculptures.
“The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human desire. A universal concept that is recognisable in art.”
Last year the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 March as the International Happiness Day in the belief that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal. Bozar, the Centre for Fine Arts has chosen to mark this event with a debate about this universal concept, in partnership with the United Nations.
Artwork of Koen Vanmechelen will be on display at this year’s 47th edition of ART COLOGNE, the world's oldest and longest running fair for 20th and 21st century fine art.
For their next edition, the creative brains behind Opkras Kuiten will occupy deSingel in Antwerpen. Theme of this edition is the current crisis. Can this crisis also be the start of something new? Is it not also a reason for celebration?
From politics to theater and back again, they talk, perform and reflect on the central theme. And since they invited Koen Vanmechelen as one of the central guest, we’ll also make a detour via art.
