Flanders-Basque Country: Art overseas betweeen Flanders and the Basque Country

The conference ´Art Overseas between Flanders and the Basque Contry´, to be held on 17 and 18 October at the M Museum in Leuven, will explore the deep connections between the two regions through the lens of art.

Coordinated by University of the Basque Country lecturer and researcher Aintzane Erkizia, the event will bring together art historians, academics and artists from Flanders and the Basque Country. Together, they will examine how art reflects the cultural exchange that has shaped the identities of these two regions and their cultural systems, both connected by the Atlantic.

The relationship between Flanders and the Basque Country, which dates back centuries, has primarily evolved through the sea - a shared route that facilitated the continuous exchange of goods, ideas, and people. For centuries, works of art travelled alongside merchandise, and today, the Flemish imprint is clearly perceptible in Basque art, a legacy that will be the subject of discussion at this conference.

The event seeks to highlight how the inhabitants of the coasts have turned their gazes towards other shores, forming new communities and cultural connections. Featuring insights from art experts and representatives of the contemporary art scene, the conference aims to be a platform for understanding art not just as an aesthetic object, but as a dynamic testament to the exchange between cultures and territories.

Check the programme.