STUDIO STADSWAAG. Following up on how to plumb a space for learning

STUDIO STADSWAAG
Following up on how to plumb a space for learning

Published on the occasion of the official opening of eight works of art in public space installed at the Stadswaag square, initiated by Studio Stadswaag, Stadsform and Expanding Academy, 31/05/2025, and with support of Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Endeavour, District Antwerp, and Vlaamse overheid (in the frame of Stimuleringsinstrument Kunst in Opdracht in de Publieke Ruimte).

Released within the context of the Expanding Academy Publication Series edited by Nico Dockx and Judith Wielander at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp.

texts: Inge Bertels, Johan Pas, Bert Timmermans
artworks: Niel de Vries, Elvis Milo Federico, Justine Grillet, Matthias Hellemans,
Rúnar Örn Jóhönnu Marinósson, Céline Meulemans, Elvira Mulkay,
Cristina Esmoris Navarro, Ugne Neveckaite, Mitya Proost, Arthur Van de Velde,
Daan van Nunen, Dries Willems, Maria Sawizki, Subin Son, Bernadette Zdrazil
editing: Nico Dockx
design: Nico Dockx, Jean-Michel Meyers
printing: Bruno Devos at Zwartopwit
edition: 300

The Stadswaag, a small but idyllic square in the student neighbourhood of Antwerp, does not only hold significance in the history of trade in the city but also became the home base for, among others, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, the University of Antwerp and the centre for dialogue Stadsform. Even historic, idyllic squares need updating sometimes, and thus when the District of Antwerp began redesigning the square, the academy, university and Stadsform partnered up to co-create the new design and the integration of public art on the square.

Rather than commissioning a single ‘bronze sculpture’ by one artist, local residents, students and various artists were invited to shape the artwork together. Through dialogue evenings, the neighbourhood, its history, significance and archives were re-discovered. These insights were then combined to explore and test new possibilities for the square. For example, the art integration seeks to build a new relationship between the Stadswaag and the academy campus.

To further inspire new ideas for the square, a summer school was organised for various courses at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. Several international artists with relevant experience were invited to share their work and reflect with students on the role of art in public space.

A first visible result of this process can now be found in the tree grids placed on the square—each grid the outcome of a collaboration between master students and alumni of the academy, reflecting a process involving local residents, art historians, artists and more. This marks the result of a three-year-long collaboration between Stadsform, the academy and the university.