Together with six young performers, director Chokri Ben Chikha explores the connection between the drive to excel and the sensationalisation of difference. Flemish Primitives sheds new light on flashy talent shows and the idea that success can be engineered.
At the 35th World Expo in Dubai, a group of artists is presenting a project centred on Flemish mastery — from ‘Flemish Primitive’ Jan van Eyck to choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, from Pieter Brueghel and Peter Paul Rubens to Alain Platel and Wim Vandekeybus, from craftsmanship to high-tech. And not without a side effect: their stay in the Arab emirate leads them to seemingly conclusive insights into the malleability of success.
Back on fertile Flemish soil, the theory is put to the test. The central question: “Who will be tomorrow’s Flemish Master?”. Under the watchful eye of the public, six young Flemings – who share nothing but their drive for success and their migrant backgrounds – undergo a series of experiments. Who will withdraw from the rat race? Who will uphold the belief in the survival of the fittest?
When he took office as Minister of Culture, Jan Jambon stated that Flemish arts must excel internationally. Director Chokri Ben Chikha took up the challenge: he set out to promote Flemish arts at the World Expo in Dubai. In Flemish Primitives, he searches for the ultimate formula for Flemish success. The performance sheds new light on flashy talent shows and the malleability of this success. Together with six young performers, Ben Chikha explores the relationship between the drive to excel and the spectacularisation of difference.
'We’ve always had to fend for ourselves.
We’re always at our best in times of hardship.
Struggling through the mud has made us great.
Strong. Disciplined.
And humble and modest too.
But those days are over now.'
Press
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Theaterkrant (critic's choice) (Netherlands)
02.04.2022"Almost imperceptibly, the performance encapsulates an entire era. Although that postcolonial model is indeed beginning to show cracks, we still haven't gotten over our Western superiority. Until then, Action Zoo Humain still has plenty to do, that much is clear."Read more -
Knack Focus ★★★★ (Belgium)
25.03.2022"Director Chokri Ben Chikha delivers a sharp and highly topical play with Flemish Primitives."Read more -
De Standaard ★★★★ (Belgium)
19.03.2022"And then the Jewish-Russian dancer Hellen Boyko steps forward, in what is perhaps the most powerful scene of the year. She abruptly slaps her Hungarian fellow dancer, for all the suffering inflicted on the Jewish people. But she is also Russian, she adds, and addresses the audience in tears. Will anyone come and hit her, as a Russian? Or hug her, as a human being? In the tension that follows, the space between the slap and the hug, between mastery and humanity, Flemish Primitives shows its great power. And that of theatre."Read more -
PZAZZ (Belgium)
18.03.2022"The atmosphere is spot on, the humour keeps coming, and of course everything ultimately goes haywire. A perfect theatrical spectacle. And so right."Read more -
De Morgen ★★★ (Belgium)
18.03.2022"Neoliberalism and identity politics form an unholy cocktail, in which “success” becomes a matter of integration where the most “perfect” Fleming wins. Flemish Primitives demonstrates this convincingly."Read more -
PZAZZ (Belgium)
11.03.2022"Flemish Primitives is a captivating performance that introduces us to six Flemish masters to cherish"Read more -
De Morgen (België)
15.03.2022‘Shakespeare, Dylan and Chokri Ben Chikha: the best shows on offer right now.’Read more -
De Morgen (Belgium)
08.03.2022‘Flemish Primitives, a piece in which Ben Chikha not only debunks the success of the Flemish arts sector, but also embraces it.’Read more -
De Tijd (interview) (Belgium)
21.10.2021'Various politicians have been talking endlessly about how Flanders must excel. We’ve actually been doing that for hundreds of years in the arts: with Jan van Eyck, with Peter Paul Rubens, with our fashion designers and our choreographers. So what exactly is the secret of our success? What is the secret of excellence in the first place? Is there something in our bread, in our beer, in our fries? What is it that makes us live on such fertile ground?'Read more
Credits
- Concept, directing, choreography
- Chokri Ben Chikha
- Choreography
- Laura Neyskens (inspired by choreographies by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Alain Platel, Wim Vandekeybus)
- Cast
- Izah Hankammer, Pjotr Nuyts/Arno Verbruggen, Hellen Boyko, Vivien Piti, Alya Camara/Papus Keita, Moussa Ndiaye
- Host
- Francesca Vanthielen/Michaël Pas
- Text
- Erik-Ward Geerlings, Erwin Jans
- Dramaturgy
- Raphaël Vandeweyer
- Live video
- Niko Himschoot
- Music
- Osama Abdulrasol
- Costumes
- Robin Verslegers, Marij De Brabandere
- Scenography
- Fish Eye
- Video
- Pascal Poissonier, Messervideo, Heren Loebas commissioned by Visit Flanders
- Light design
- Francis Gahide
- Technical coordination
- Bennert Van Cottem
- Technical
- Jonathan Maes, Wim Piqueur
- Special thanks to
- Aymon Antoine, Astrid Vansteenkiste, Zouzou Ben Chikha, Arend Pinoy, Joline Vermeulen, Wilfried Van Craen, Alain van hiel, Hetti Helsmoortel, Dirk De Wachter, Jan Dumoulyn, Paul Verhaeghe, Stef Ampe, Thijs Degheldere (Brands and stories)
- Visuals
- Nick Hannes, Kurt van der Elst
- Production
- Action Zoo Humain
- Coproduction
- Perpodium
- In collaboration with
- NTGent
- Co-labo
- Les Ballets C de la B
- Partners
- KASK School of Arts/HoGent, City of Ghent, the Flemish Government
- With the support of
- the Belgian Federal Government’s tax shelter via Cronos Invest
Gallery
