Alter Ensor: MoMu Celebrates the Stories and Creative Looks of Young Make-up Artists
The youth project Alter Ensor relates to Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor, the exhibition focused on professional and artistic make-up visions. This spring, MoMu, DE SINGEL and Arenberg called on young people between the ages of 16 and 25 to share their most creative make-up looks. In videos, they talked at length about their creation process and what make-up means to them. From the submissions, we selected ten names. Meet the young make-up talents.
Creation Day
On 19 August 2024, the ten selected young people gathered at DE SINGEL to work with make-up artist Naomi Waku to create a new make-up design inspired by the work of James Ensor. The process and final results were filmed and photographed in detail. The young people also had the opportunity to elaborate on their stories and experiences with make-up in interviews.
Aftermovie | Alter Ensor Creation Day
Elena Lázaro (26)
I love to draw, so I also find it incredibly fascinating to draw on my face. It's a way to create characters and bring them to life.
Eslauder Pinto (25)
I love it so much that I'm focussed on it all the time. I'm constantly thinking about how to create new looks.
Laima Scholliers (18)
Make-up is one of the most personal art forms because you literally put a part of yourself into it. The face is my favourite canvas.
Louise Desmet (23)
It's a form of meditation. It's so intuitive that I barely have to think about it. I just use my intuition.
Maaike Muermans (23)
I feel a need to create and find a connection between the here and now and a place that is incomprehensible to others; there is no sense of obligation.
Marion Dégardin (25)
Make-up is my way of expressing my personality every day. It is a special ritual of self-love, self-care and self-esteem.
Shelsey Boermans (25)
I used to use make-up because I didn't like myself, now it's an expression of self-love. It's art you wear on your face to show who you are.
Tysico Bosmans (19)
Make-up lets me be the kid I could never be. It is my home, it's what I'm meant to do. It gives me peace, calm and freedom.
Deborah Serlet (31)
It's playing with transformation. It is very liberating and calming. Time always passes in an instant when I'm doing make-up.
Yilin Du (25)
It is my creative haven. It feels like dreaming, like a spiritual experience beyond time and self-perception.
Screening Event
During the Alter Ensor Screening Event on 5 October 2024, the ten young talents shared their take on make-up and their designs, inspired by the work of James Ensor. The youngsters also engaged with professionals from the make-up, fashion and art worlds including Inge Grognard, Bianca Quets Luzi, Stef Van Looveren, Karla Q Leon, Sandrine Coutelier, Naomi Waku and Dennis Heyndrickx during a panel talk.
Exhibition
After the screening event at MoMu, Alter Ensor will hold halt at Arenberg, where you can discover the photos and videos of the young make-up talents' final creations in the foyer of De Grote from 13 October to 24 November 2024. More info