becraft | anciens abattoirs de mons

From November 24, 2024 to February 16, 2025, a major exhibition will open at the Anciens Abattoirs in Mons, bringing together some of the best European artists in contemporary applied art. This 6th edition brings together 58 artists from 16 European countries, exhibiting some 100 unique works. Thanks to the support of the World Craft Council Europe and the Ministry of Culture of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, two prizes worth 3,500 euros will be awarded to the winners. The aim of the exhibition is to showcase the very best of European craftsmanship through technically and aesthetically masterful creations. The exhibition showcases the arts and crafts of ceramics, glass, goldsmithing, wood, textiles, paper and contemporary jewelry - all creations that appeal to the mastery of the gesture. But it is not only the craftsmanship that is important, but also the contemporary nature of these creations. Today's designers are breaking away from traditional codes to question the world. New materials and new techniques are added to traditional recipes to present an art form that is as modern as it is ancient, as codified as it is reactionary. The scenography, designed by Evelyne Gilmont, is simple, practical and unpretentious. The furniture is designed for optimal, lightweight transportation, an essential factor in allowing the exhibition to travel throughout Europe. By offering both the public and the artists an opportunity to view the works of designers from around the world, both in Belgium and abroad, BeCraft helps promote dialogue, stimulation and emulation in the applied arts. And because it is necessary to recognize the plastic and conceptual qualities of the applied arts in the same way as the contemporary plastic arts, BeCraft has given its event a new title: MAESTRIA, for a rethinking of the true value of the mastery of gesture.