The main purpose of the Urban Space studio is to train visual artists. The studio is defined by its multidisciplinary approach to visual creation and by the fact that its research is rooted in the reality of the contemporary world. The political, ecological, societal and technological forces at work in the world are all areas of study that form the basis of the Urban Space course, which is first and foremost a studio based on the real.

Through field surveys, themed modules, meetings, exhibition visits and designs, and the use of drawing, volume, video and writing (both individually and collectively), students acquire the artistic tools they need to develop a critical, forward-looking and poetic view of the world we live in today.

The studio’s location in the heart of Brussels and Europe makes it ideally placed to develop this type of research. There are no limits to the concept of space: one can speak of physical space, mental space, virtual space, social space, space of freedom, etc. The concept of the urban can be understood in the strict sense, in relation to the city, but also in the figurative sense, as attention to otherness and the environment. 

The aim of the Urban Space studio is to encourage students to develop their own artistic approach and visual language and to acquire the technical and conceptual tools they need to carry out their projects. They should bear in mind that the future is not written – it is theirs to build. 

Bachelor’s 1 and 2

Students are offered a set of specific exercises and field work: for example, immersion in a neighbourhood, research into a specific locality or societal issue, observational drawing, sound and image recording, etc. Depending on the exercise proposed, Bachelor’s students work individually or in groups. 

Bachelor’s 3

The third year of the Bachelor’s programme is dedicated to the diploma. Bachelor’s 3 students take part in a number of joint exercises and start work on their personal projects.

Master’s 1 and 2

The Master’s programme is fully devoted to the development of personal research (supervised and guided by the entire teaching staff).

While developing their project, Master’s 2 students also produce a written, analytical report (thesis) linked to their personal research. 

Pedagogical coordination

Erwan Mahéo, Toma Muteba Luntumbue, Antoine Rocca, Laure Cottin Stefanelli