2005/11/22 - STUDIO BRUSSEL - TRUC-TROC - BOZAR - LUC VERMEERBERGEN

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

The first person we have on the line is Luc Vermeerbergen. The third edition of Truc Troc, in the cellars of Bozar in Brussels, was an exhibition of a special kind. Luc Vermeerbergen was one of the artists exhibiting there. Good evening, Luc van Meerberg.

Luc Vermeerbergen

It is Vermeerbergen.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

An artist who comes on the radio and gets his name wrong... Rather Luc van Meerberg.

Luc Vermeerbergen

Vermeerbergen, that's it.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Truc Troc is not just a nice name. It is a special concept. What did you think of the concept? Exchanging a work of art for all sorts of possibilities.

Luc Vermeerbergen

I thought it was great, because I exchange a lot myself.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

You already mention exchanging a work of art. When you enter, you receive a pack of Post-its and a ballpoint pen. There were one hundred artists. There were one hundred works, and the standard was actually quite high. You walk around. If you like a work, you write down what you want to give in exchange. Which work was yours?

Luc Vermeerbergen

I had a painting, about one metre by one metre twenty.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

What did it look like? What was it about?

Luc Vermeerbergen

An abstract painting with a lot of red, a lot of dark tones and a black frame. If you look at stubru.be, you will find the painting there too. I made it in a day and a half.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

But tell me, did you receive many Post-its?

Luc Vermeerbergen

I had about thirty.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Thirty Post-its. And what was written on them?

Luc Vermeerbergen

There are a few I am really hesitating between. A stay in a guest room in Burgundy, with the possibility of exhibiting there. Or one to two weeks in a small flat in Paris, place de la Nation, so inside the ring road, for one to four people. There was also something in Tanzania.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

What?

Luc Vermeerbergen

Two weeks. And there was also something in Puebla, in Mexico, for two weeks as well.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

That is already very serious. But were there also offers made for a laugh?

Luc Vermeerbergen

There were amusing things.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Such as?

Luc Vermeerbergen

A star graffiti, I found that rather amusing.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

You received a star graffiti. When I look at your painting, that might match its spirit. Not entirely, right. A "dame blanche". Someone offering a dame blanche. Look, that is an offer I would go for. It could of course be an ice cream, but also a blonde lady.

Luc Vermeerbergen

Then I would have to call, I don't know.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

So the choice, Luc, in other words, is very difficult.

Luc Vermeerbergen

Yes, but above all it is very enjoyable.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Do you find this nicer than receiving money for your work? How much would it normally have cost? What would the asking price have been?

Luc Vermeerbergen

Oh, I would have asked something like 2,500 euros. Well, I could hang it at that price in an exhibition, but that does not mean that I would get it.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

No, but that would have been the asking price. That is not nothing. Can a weekend in Burgundy compete with that?

Luc Vermeerbergen

I would say yes, because in the end, it does not stop there.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

How so?

Luc Vermeerbergen

A weekend in Burgundy can be the beginning of something entirely different.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Yes, because you can also exhibit there.

Luc Vermeerbergen

For example. Or you get to know those people, or you create something there... I don't know, the future will tell.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Luc, I hear that your preference goes to that weekend in Burgundy.

Luc Vermeerbergen

Oh, I would gladly do them all, because I will also contact the other people. Only one of them can get something in exchange for this painting. I can hardly divide it into four. But I have other paintings.

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

So you will probably contact those other people too, to see if that suits them. You are simply betting on an arrangement. Quite right too.

Luc Vermeerbergen

Who knows?

Journaliste - Studio Brussel

Luc Vermeerbergen, much success in Burgundy, Paris, Tanzania and Mexico. And let us know what became of it, right.

Luc Vermeerbergen

That's a promise. Goodbye.