Clay (Sint-Niklaas)

Railway brigdes, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, 2023-2024

“Clay (Sint-Niklaas)” consists of 10 permanent, site-specific installations, spread underneath the railway bridges of Sint-Niklaas in Belgium. Each installation is a composition that combines hand-formed brick modules and 3D-printed ceramics. The geometry of the railway bridge, an architectural work of art in itself, and the broader context of the city make up the source of inspiration that defines the sculptures on various levels. The hand-formed modules - in the shape of triangles, trapeziums, and parallelograms - are based on the geometry of the railway pillars. These modular bricks are made of locally sourced clay as raw material. The clay soil references the brick-making history that characterizes this region. In the summer of 2023, more than 600 local residents participated by moulding the clay into bricks during workshops initiated by the artists. The modules were fired at different temperatures, revealing the diverse, warm color palette of the local, wild clay. The 3D-printed ceramics show various patterns through their unique reliefs. Geometric grids and drawings refer to the city’s history and architecture. Part of the drawings and ideas that are incorporated into the prints came from workshops with students from the high school that is located just next to the railway bridge. “Clay (Sint-Niklaas)” is surrounded by a lush ecosystem of plants, winding paths, and ponds that collect rainwater, designed by landscape architecture office Stramien.