"I started talking to David about motivation, routine and inspiration. He has been bodybuilding for ten years, and in 2019 competed in the HEROES CUP, a national bodybuilding competition. Against my expectations, I noticed that, like me, he cared more about the process than the end-result. He works on his body just like a sculptor works on a sculpture, but one that is never finished. He is not interested in a great result, but in constantly pushing his boundaries. This requires iron discipline and constant dedication. He does so not alone, but within the context of a close-knit group of athletes. They train him, and he in turn trains them."

"Here I found similarities between David's field and my artistry: the environment plays an important and formative role. We also share a practice that requires constant dedication, and is always in flux. What is more, in my installations, the processual and investigative nature also predominates over the display of a finished result."

"I invited David to show his work-out in my installation. In a museum context, where his training turns into a sculpture practice. Does that make him a living sculpture? If so, who is the artist? What does it mean for the work if I choose to present myself as Team David Flawinne?"

Double your time

"This residency is of great value to me because it gives me three things: time, concentration and the network of the Institute. It felt like I had double the time because there were no distractions. No side jobs, no daily chores... This allowed me to concentrate fully on the work. The space is great too: I've never had such a big studio. That means you can build the installation to the right scale and work on it in detail."

"For me, it's important that I can be actively engaged in the context. In this case, it was the space where the installation was going to be: the museum and its team, but also Cas-co, the place where the installation was developed. Valerie Verhack from M, for example, is very familiar with my work. We met two years ago, and she has also seen my graduation work. "I never feel like I make my work alone. I involve my closest friends in the process and I keep the context and my environment in mind. It's always with. With other people, with the place."

"M has already worked with many talented artists, who absolutely have inspired me. When I had just moved to Belgium, I saw Lili Dujourie's video works 'Hommage à...I', 'Hommage à...II', 'Hommage à...III' and 'Hommage à...IV' for the first time in M Leuven. That made a huge impression on me. That the same curators have now programmed me makes me very happy."