Crudo

CRUDO is the collaboration between dancer-choreographer Lisi Estaras, curator and crip agent Pierre Muylle and visual artist Klaus Compagnie, with a studio in the Zandberg.

What connects them: their interest in art brut or outsider art. Which is the name used to refer to art by people who do not consider themselves artists, art by people with mental disabilities, psychiatric patients, hermits, eccentrics, obsessive collectors, etc.
The term raises many questions. Who defines this position as outsider or insider? Why is it important to create a separate category for people with (mental) disabilities or neurodiverse artists? They are usually referred to as enthusiasts who make obsessive work but with no intention of recognition.

Their work stems from necessity and intuition, without references or frameworks and is considered authentic and spontaneous. But isn't the same true of, say, Van Gogh? In reality, it is always someone other than the artist who labels the work, speaks about it. The artist-with-a-disability is rarely at the forefront.

Crudo begins as a lecture but turns into a performance that seeks equivalence. Perhaps Pierre is extremely skilled at danser brut? Or is something visually stimulating happening when Lisi links her monkey mind of thoughts skipping back and forth with drawing? Or is it hilariously enlightening to hear Klaus give an account of the weather and the 'dancer' of the news by which he refers to VRT newsreader Hanne De Coutere?

How refreshing is it to engage as an outsider, unencumbered by rules, history, procedures. Lisi, Pierre and Klaus rehash dance, language and sign, into a playful and colourful new world.