Résidence timide took place from late October 2016 to early July 2017 in Saint-Gilles, Brussels.
The residency welcomed four artists in total, each for a maximum period of one week, and also included a meeting with a potential future candidate.
The word “timide” was chosen as the guiding principle of the residency. This theme emerged from the specific characteristics of the workspace inside my home: the attic. The attic could only be accessed through my bedroom, and it had remained empty for some time before being rearranged and transformed into the residency’s studio space.
A timide attitude was essential at the beginning of the residency for several reasons:
- The apartment was shared with another housemate.
- There was a natural hesitation about sharing daily life so intimately — for example, sharing a sleeping space.
- There was a lack of technical materials and resources.
The concept of timide was first applied to the selection of residents: they were people with whom both my housemate and I already had some prior familiarity. I also looked for personalities that seemed timide to me, in the sense that they would be willing to respect the delicate conditions of cohabitation.
Each resident was invited to create an object for the attic, using only the materials available on-site. Depending on their needs, the artists also had the opportunity to develop their own individual projects with my assistance.
Each residency was documented through the same method:
- Chronological notes.
- Photographs taken with a single disposable camera, limited to 27 exposures.
All the works produced during the residency were presented at the finissage, held before the closing of Résidence timide in July 2017.
Bienvenue à la résidence timide (Welcome to Résidence Timide), 2017