FILIP VAN DINGENEN. ZOONATION
2002 – 2005
For approximately three years, Filip Van Dingenen ventured into a quest for animals that were transferred from a closed down zoo in Zwartberg, Belgium to other parks worldwide. Moreover, it was an artistic search for the way zoos are constructed as fake habitats and as theme parks with different functions: science, education, preservation, tourism and downright fun and escapism.
I followed the “Zoonation” project closely, published an interview with the artist as early as 2003 (“Met Filip Van Dingenen op expeditie. Reizen om te creëren” in: Gonzo Circus, n° 55, Feb.-Ma. 2003, pp. 46-49) and gave some theoretical input when asked. The final result was a beautiful book published by MER. Paper Kunsthalle as well as a nice website (www.zoonation.be) with photos, maps, drawings and reminiscences of the travels made by Van Dingenen. It was designed by Martijn Vogelaers and I wrote a short biography for it, which can be found below, as the website is, unfortunately, now offline.
The book can be bought here: http://www.merpaperkunsthalle.org/projects/view/205.