Visit Labiomista: Art, Animals, and Ecological Insights

While staying at Stiemerheide we also visited Labiomista. This is a special kind of park, a mix of zoo, art exhibition with work from Koen Vanmechelen and park. Originally the villa of the mine director was located here. The villa still exists and a number of works of art are on display there. After the coal mines closed the villa was sold and at some point the zoo of Zwartberg was opened. This zoo had to close in the eighties due to stricter animal welfare rules. Throughout the park you can walk over a concrete walkway that is a remnant of the days the park was still a zoo. Although the zoo was closed there are still a few animals in the park like zebra’s, lama’s and 2 tapirs. Throughout the park there are sculptures from Koen Vanmechelen and the audio guide tells the story behind the works of art. The artist himself also comments on why he made certain pieces. In simple terms the work is inspired by the interaction of man with nature and it explores new ways to find a new balance and improve our living together with nature. The park is not too big, the complete tour is less than 3km. If you listen to the complete audio guide it will take you at least 2 hours to complete but you can also enjoy the park and the art without knowing every little detail. We sampled the audio guide here and there and didn’t stand still too long as we weren’t properly dressed for the chilly temperatures. Still we spent at least 1.5 hours in the park. Labiomista is definitely a unique experience, a strange mix of art, park, and ecological study and from that point of view well worth a visit. I found the explanations in the audio guide sometimes a bit lengthy or pompous but some of the art was well done and orginal.