Maturation Station Installation

Maturation Station Installation is a semi-fictitious research centre at de Brakke Grond.

The title, Maturation Station, comes from one of the stages - or stations - of shrimp farming: the place where shrimp mature. In 2023-2024 I initiated an investigation within aquaculture into the eyestalk ablation technique, a technique used by shrimp farmers (forbidden in Europe) to turn female shrimp into instinctless reproductive machines; and other, more ethical practices in the shrimp industry. During this research, artist and cinematographer Anaïs Chabeur and I infiltrated in European blue economy conference as bona fide researchers from the fictional company Eau bureau. This fictional company forms the basis for an installation at the Brakke Grond.

The entire creation process includes a trajectory with Studio Aalst, the making of a short film, a lecture performance, a talk and the installation at the Brakke Grond.

Installation i.c.w. Natasja Mabesoone & Sara Thewissen (logo), Carly Rae Heathcote (shrimp head), Chloé Op de Beeck & Louise Delanghe (paintings), Benne Dousselaere (soundscape), Anaïs Chabeur (video)

Co-produced by STUK, workspacebrussels, Netwerk Aalst, de Vlaamse Overheid

Thanks to BLUEGhent & au bureau vzw