PLAKT:
Céline Mathieu
For PLAKT, Céline Mathieu created ’‘’ [calender for daily use drawn by dear friend Andrea Zavala Folache — valued and presented as an artwork]. Céline used to see the calendar her friend Andrea Zavala Folache drew almost every day, as it hung on the wall of their studio when they were in residency at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht (NL). Céline kept thinking of how she could own it without owning it. So she asked Andrea if she could present it as a work, something her friend didn’t intend as such. This calendar Andrea Zavala Folache drew follows the form of what time looks like in her mind, a snaking curved shape. Céline asked her to draw one without mentioning the months, and name her in the material list as maker.
This work is part of a series of relational works currently presented at Jester (Genk). This calendar print is a third part of the original one, blown up to A1 size to fit the PLAKT series. For each of her appropriated, unintended works, Céline Mathieu asks the person what compensation they see fit; at all, or in case of sale. From this conversation on value and worth, the artist agrees on what the other proposes their respective parts of the work are worth.
By placing this work in the public space, the circulation and valuing of thoughts and materials continues. Does the casual viewer recognize the work as an artwork, or does it slip into the unnoticed fabric of the city? What does it mean to claim authorship over something never meant to be art? And how does its presence in public shift its reading yet again?
In a setting where posters usually advertise events or commodities, ‘’ exists without clear instructions, without a price, without a name urging consumption. Instead, it offers a quiet disruption, a space for questioning ownership, value, and the unseen systems that shape what we consider art.
PLAKT invites artists to create works printed as blueback posters, which are pasted across the city. This is done by professionals who typically distribute event advertisements, giving them control over when and where the artworks appear. Embracing spontaneity and unpredictability, the posters pop up in unexpected spots, disappearing just as quickly—reflecting the uncontrollable, fleeting nature of city life. PLAKT is about creating unexpected encounters—brief moments of joy, curiosity, or reflection. Whether it’s a quick pause during a busy day or a smile on a familiar street corner, these artworks aim to connect art with the everyday, reminding us to live in the moment and embrace the unexpected nature of life.
We are spreading over 300 copies of each artwork across the public spaces of Brussels and Flanders. Exactly when and where? We don’t know—that’s part of the beauty.
Céline Mathieu €265
‘’, [calender for daily use drawn by dear friend Andrea Zavala Folache — valued and presented as an artwork]
We saved 15 pristine copies of this print to present as a limited edition – signed and numbered by the artist.