Namur is about to get noisy – in the best way possible. From October 23 to 26, the KIKK Festival will turn this charming Belgian city into a full-blown symphony of sights, sounds, and, yes, occasional robot chaos. This is the 14th edition of KIKK, and it’s going big: think robot musicians tackling a church organ at Saint-Loup, thirty immersive installations by artists like Zimun, So Kanno, and Ban Lei, and enough blinking lights and thumping bass to make you wonder if you accidentally wandered into a digital Wonderland. For the first time ever, KIKK has officially decided to pair music and technology – because why not? The festival’s catchphrase, “Boom Boom Tchak,” is basically the soundtrack of our hearts… and apparently also of some very ambitious machines. From birds and wind to engines and bass guitars, Namur is about to become a city that doesn’t just see art – it listens to it, vibrates with it, and maybe even dances a little.
The art route has expanded this year, with public works popping up all over town. Starting October 16, Studio Interval, led by Yannick Jaquet, will unleash a gigantic audiovisual installation at Place Maurice Servais. By night, it turns into an animated carousel with panoramic sound and projections by Rocio Alvarez – basically, a merry-go-round for the senses. Zimun, the Swiss wizard of sound and immersive experiences, is bringing a cardboard-box wall to life using hundreds of motors. The result? A hypnotic, almost primal rhythm machine that might make you question reality – or at least your coordination.
And if that’s not enough, French artist Alexis Choplin presents Hydroscope, a magical water-light-sound extravaganza that’s part science experiment, part disco show, and entirely mesmerizing. So pack your ears, your curiosity, and maybe some earplugs (just in case), because Namur is about to move to the beat of Boom Boom Tchak – and you won’t want to miss a single thump.
Chinese artist Ban Lei presents the spectacular installation 153 Returning Birds – an interactive work featuring 153 “whistle-bird sculptures” that anyone can play. Ban Lei will be present at the festival for all four days, coordinating and bringing these collective performances to life, turning the exhibition space into a shared musical instrument. So yes, you can become part of the orchestra – just don’t blame anybody if you hit the wrong note!
Ban Lei (班磊) is a Chinese artist and musician, born in 1990 in Shanghai. After studying classical music and working in the field of new technologies, he moved away from traditional musical rules and standard equipment use, aiming to create an “objective” or “neutral” creative context. He makes his own musical instruments, mostly from wood, inspired by nature – trees, plants, wind, and rhythm – which he plays both solo and in ensembles. For him, the instrument is an extension of the musician’s body. Ban Lei studied music at Shanghai University, played in bands, and worked in the Interactive Media Art programme at New York University Shanghai. In 2018, he received a grant from Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, for a residency at the Embassy of Foreign Artists in Geneva. Ban lives between 2 countries for a moment.