Invited by Koen Vanmechelen, Portuguese electrofolk artist OMIRI (Vasco Ribeiro Casais) spent the past year collecting the stories and sounds of more than 150 people from Genk, shaping them into a living musical portrait of the city.

Published by Lannoo Publishers, We Thought We Were Alone is the new catalog by Koen Vanmechelen, capturing the soul of his major solo exhibition in Venice. Featuring sharp essays from an exceptional group of contributors, intimate reflections, striking imagery, and a chapter on his collaboration with musician Youssou N’Dour, the book invites readers to explore what it truly means to share a complex, interconnected world.