Günther De Beuckelaer
Mummanoïds, Tied to time, but free in memory

Mummanoïds is a performance centered around artificial, humanoid entities. They resemble humans but lack a soul, a history, a consciousness. This work explores the boundaries between humanity and artificial construction, questioning what it truly means to be ‘present.’

These gender-neutral entities leave space for interpretation, inviting an intuitive approach. My personal story is subtly woven into every detail, surrounded by silences and open questions. The underlying theme touches on a deeper struggle: a body that does not always feel like home, an identity shifting between fixed categories. Mummanoïds embody this duality—present yet untouched, visible yet elusive.

The viewer is invited into a dialogue, not only with a body or an object but with an artwork that asks for recognition and understanding. The work acts as a mirror—not just of the human form but of the emotions and thoughts it evokes. This creates a moment where observation, emotion, and creation merge into a shared experience.

This performance highlights the complexity of identity, memory, connection, and alienation. Every detail becomes a story, captured in the interplay of light and shadow that fills the space. Mummanoïds is a dialogue between what is seen and what remains hidden, between the tangible and the unspoken, between a skin that both protects and confines.

Günther De Beuckelaer

About Me: At 51, I made a drastic decision: I left my professional career behind and chose to study again at KASK & Conservatorium Ghent, specializing in Visual Arts. In a world shifting further to the right, I feel the urgency to raise my voice and spread a message of tolerance, inclusion, and diversity. For me, art is the ultimate language to visualize and share these emotions.

As a performer, I often use my own body as a medium of expression. My work balances between autobiography, artistic inspiration, and imagination. By integrating the fragility of my nakedness into my performances, I aim to bring inner processes to the surface and engage in a deeper dialogue with my audience.

Günther De Beuckelaer

Abstract Entities

Abstract Entities, Thomas Hitchcock's first institutional solo exhibition in Belgium, delves into the intersections of Art Nouveau and Europe’s fin de siècle cultural period and contemporary technological developments. Situated within the context of today’s global capitalism and digital shifts, he critically examines and juxtaposes themes of exploitation within a broader movement of retreating into interiority and dream-like realms.

Hitchcock’s newly created sculptural installation, within KIOSK’s former anatomical theater, also functions as an open platform for temporary interventions by Belgian art students. A multitude of different interventions across several media will take place throughout the exhibition period, including performances, music, collective readings, talks, workshops, discussions, body practices, poetry, and screenings – starting with the first contributions during the opening.

Practical information about the exhibition

• Opening on Saturday the 25th of January 2025, between 3 and 6 p.m.
• Open daily between 12.00 and 6.00 p.m.
• Open until 16.03.2025
  
• Free entrance
• Louis Pasteurlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

This exhibition was produced in collaboration with Phileas - The Austrian Office for Contemporary Art, and with the support of the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES) of Austria.