The Crystal Ship 2023 Sets Sail

“Ostend isn’t a metropolis like London, Berlin and Paris” explains Belgian art curator Bjørn Van Poucke to reporter Colin Clapson.  He’s referring to the limitation in the number of walls available for legal murals. He should know, he’s responsible for The Crystal Ship, a contemporary art festival that has taken place in this coastal city since 2016 and has become one of the most significant street art festivals in Europe, attracting renowned artists from around the world.

Jaune. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)

“Ostend certainly has an impressive collection of street art with a wide variety of large and small pieces painted on all kinds of residential and commercial buildings,” says renowned photographer Martha Cooper, who was invited there by Mr. Van Poucke this year. “There’s a good paper map available at the tourist office and also an excellent website so people can find the walls,” says Cooper.

Every year the Crystal Ship invites a diverse range of international artists to create large-scale murals and public art installations throughout the city – names have included well-known and regarded artists like Miss Van, Alexis Diaz, and Fintan Magee – each bringing their own aesthetic to this festival/event that receives support from a mix of private and government funding that is local and national. For more about the past artists, you can check out The Crystal Ship website. Many of these artists’ work can also be found in Ruby Gallery, where Van Poucke and co-owner Thierry Dubois organize exhibitions on canvas.

Jaune. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)

In the past, the festival has showcased over 60 murals and art installations, and many are spaced far from one another, so Ms. Cooper tells us she had an excellent driver named Lorre Soenen to take her around. “He was very knowledgeable about the murals,” she says.

“Bringing people closer to art is the aim of The Crystal Ship” explains Mayor Bart Tommelein on the VRT news website. “It happens at the heart of the city, on walls at the centre of neighbourhoods, where people live and work.” 

Jaune. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Jaune. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Jaune. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Jaune. Detail. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Jaune. Martha Cooper stencil. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Jaune. Martha Cooper cut out figurine. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo courtesy of Martha Cooper)
Jaune. Martha Cooper pictured here at Jaune’s exhibition at Ruby Gallery. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo courtesy of Martha Cooper)
Cleon Peterson. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Ellena Lourens. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Ellena Lourens. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo courtesy of The Crystal Ship)
Gviiie. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Julien De Casabianca. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Julien De Casabianca. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo courtesy of The Crystal Ship)
Pat Perry. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Moulaye Sarr. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Moulaye Sarr. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Joelle Dubois. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Joelle Dubois. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Joelle Dubois. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo courtesy of The Crystal Ship)
Mobstr. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Mobstr. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Mobstr. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Mobstr. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Momo. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Momo. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Slim Safont. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Slim Safont. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Slim Safont. Official opening of the festival. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo © Martha Cooper)
Slim Safont. The Crystal Ship 2023. Ostend, Belgium. (photo courtesy of The Crystal Ship)
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