Ciel Grommen & Maximiliaan Royakkers - Artist

Together, Ciel Grommen (b. 1989, Sint-Truiden) and Maximiliaan Royakkers (b. 1988, Hasselt) form an artist-architect tandem. Their work is situated on the threshold of artistic research, education and spatial design, and existing social, political and ecological dynamics. Complex social contexts and disturbed landscapes are often the starting point for their projects. As spatial designers, they aim to weave new stories into existing contexts. Through extensive fieldwork, spatial interventions and symbolic activities, they test alternative ways of being in-the-space.

Le Paysage Ménagé consists of the design and realisation of two complementary physical structures with a dual function. On the one hand, they mark CIAP's presence as an organisation on the site. At the same time, they create a hub for experimenting with alliances between the different actors (organisations, artists, residents, animals, plants), regions (existing public buildings, mine tailings, empty lots) and functions (residential, educational, cultural and commercial). The first spatial intervention was shared with the general public in September 2020, in the form of a ceramic kiln.

Ciel Grommen studied architecture at KU Leuven (2012) and a Master in contemporary art at HEAD in Geneva (2015). Her works have been exhibited internationally, including at Artsonje Art Center, Seoul; Live In Your Head Gallery, Geneva; and Z33 in Hasselt. They also often appeared in non-institutional contexts, such as Petit Chateau, the asylum centre in Brussels, her neighbour's mailbox or the Aldi car park in Borgloon.

Maximiliaan Royakkers studied architecture at KU Leuven (2012) and obtained a master's degree at the Sandberg Institute's Studio for Immediate Spaces in Amsterdam (2014). His work includes design, artistic research and educational experiments. He regularly contributes to journals and editorial projects. His works have already been presented at Bureau Europa and Jan Van Eyck Academy (Maastricht), De Singel (Antwerp), Bozar (Brussels), Z33 (Hasselt) and Stroom (The Hague).