Six figures of Mons 2015
Mons 2015 is a dream that has been painstakingly realised by hundreds of local as well as international artists.
Among them, six major personalities have agreed to design unique adventures for the citizens of Mons, each with their own art and artistic flair. The supporting artists are not just the cherry on the cake: they are the baking tin, the cake mix and the whisk that make the recipe so explosive. Cooking up here we have Lespagnard, Mouawad, Flamand, Norac, Pinilla and Bouyagui. Magic !
WAJDI MOUAWAD
In 2011 the Lebanese-Quebecois playwright Wajdi Mouawad gave a wonderful gift to 50 pupils from home and abroad. Five years of meeting people and travelling to learn to write, read, count and speak. Ultimately, to think independently. Is this not the aim of the Seven Tragedies of Sophocles, being presented in their entirety during Mons 2015 by Wajdi? A project as ambitious as it is generous !
FRÉDÉRIC FLAMAND
Belgian choreographer Frédéric Flamand draws inspiration from Google on Paper. What if all the knowledge of the world were gathered into one place? Such was the utopia of the two creators of the Mundaneum. For its reopening, The Mirror City calls our utopias into question with a mixture of video and dance and a hundred dancers. Taking place at the Lotto Mons Expo.
FANNY BOUYAGUI
Fanny Bouyagui, of the Art Point M collective, is everywhere – ambassador for Lille 3000 at la Maison Folie, sunflower horticulturalist at the Grand-Place, and above all, commander-in-chief of the great poetic demonstration of ‘Mons Idéal’, where colourful slogans abound. She is paving the way for the new generation, and towards 2016. Subversive!
JEAN-PAUL LESPAGNARD
Jean-Paul Lespagnard, Belgian fashion designer and star of the catwalk, is ready with his kit for the perfect trendy. He is also running fashion workshops for men and women from 7 to 70; whether you’re into metal or platinum, the Opening Party will be shining bright.
CARL NORAC
Carl Norac is a Mons poet who loves his city as much as he loves words. Whether at the post office, the courthouse or in your very own living room, Carl will tell you stories in the dark. He is to reveal his own collection of illustrations for the first time during the Fête du Livre Illustré (Festival of Illustrated Books) in Jemappes, as well as filling in as editor of the literary review L’Impertinente.
MARC PINILLA
Marc Pinilla, lead singer of Suarez, is not only a coach on The Voice: he also trains young writer-composers and audiovisual technicians in the art of musical composition here in Mons. He is also creating an off-the-wall musical spectacle with Olivier Monssens: together the pair will open Pandora’s box and heat the made-in-Belgium hit factory all the way up…
