Marking its 11th edition, Horst Arts & Music is doubling down on its mission to merge cutting-edge art, architecture, and performance, with a focus on community, ecology, and the democratization of the dancefloor. The 2025 program introduces a bold mix of site-specific projects, an immersive summer exhibition, and groundbreaking architectural interventions—all debuting at the festival in May and continuing throughout the year at ASIAT Park.
At the core of this year’s program is the Horst Expo titled There Will Come Soft Rains, an exhibition exploring themes of rebirth and evolution. Featuring works by renowned artists Eddie Peake, Marilyn Minter, Joshua Serafin, and Kenza Taleb Vandeput, the exhibition will unfold through striking installations that examine the intersections of art, identity, and community.
Complementing this, a new semi-permanent stage will debut, co-designed by DJ and producer DVS1 alongside architects Leopold Banchini and Giona Bierens de Haan. Other architectural interventions include contributions from Atelier Fanelsa, Jean-Benoît Vétillard, Alter, YRD Works, and more. These structures, first introduced at the festival, will remain as permanent community spaces, extending Horst’s impact beyond the event itself.
From Festival to Summer Exhibition and Beyond
Throughout the three-day festival, performances and installations will seamlessly blend with the musical and spatial environment. Eddie Peake will present The Pervert in the Rain Room, a striking performance featuring gold-painted dancers and a live soundscape. Following its debut at Horst, this piece—represented by White Cube Gallery—will tour Fold London, Galeria Municipal do Porto, and other major European venues. Hamed Dehqan and Nathaniel Moore will stage a participatory dance performance exploring pre-internet virality in the Iranian diaspora, developed during a residency at DE SINGEL.
In the realm of visual arts, Esben Weile Kjær will introduce a monumental inflatable sculpture of a golden rat, while Marilyn Minter, in collaboration with Tick Tack Gallery, will project a large-scale video installation onto one of ASIAT Park’s iconic cooling towers—melding fashion aesthetics with feminist themes.
‘There Will Come Soft Rains’—An Exhibition of Resilience
Inspired by Sara Teasdale’s 1918 poem of the same name, There Will Come Soft Rains reflects on renewal amid devastation. “This program challenges us to imagine how we evolve from conflict and decay into a harmonious future,” explains Louise Goegebeur, artistic coordinator at Horst Arts & Music. The exhibition, expanding due to unforeseen site developments, embodies resilience by unlocking an additional space at the edge of ASIAT Park.
Kenza Taleb Vandeput, founder of Kasbah Kosmic, will present a textile installation symbolizing multicultural narratives in fashion, shaped through workshops with local communities. Rising Venice Biennale star Joshua Serafin will unveil Buried in a Coffin the Size of a Grain of Rice, a participatory performance staged within a swamp-like installation. Meanwhile, Sumayya Vally, in collaboration with Shendy Gardin and Trïennale Brugge, introduces Grains of Paradise, an installation featuring six African boats repurposed for rewilding experiments—paying tribute to Paul Panda Farnana, a Congolese intellectual who studied at Horteco.
Other notable contributions include Maen Florin’s anthropomorphic ceramic sculptures set within Stand Van Zaken’s former State of Play installation, and Sounak Das, who will take over the clay pavilion designed by Afrah Shafiq and BC Materials.
‘Dark Skies’ by DVS1, Leopold Banchini & Giona Bierens de Haan
A highlight of Horst 2025, Dark Skies is a groundbreaking structure designed by DVS1, Leopold Banchini, and Giona Bierens de Haan. This wooden installation functions as both a dance canopy and an advanced sound system, spatially directing sound from above. “This project redefines the festival experience, blending sound engineering with architectural innovation,” states Carole Depoorter, architect at Horst Arts & Music.
Lasting Architectural Impact
Beyond the festival, Horst’s commitment to Vilvoorde’s community continues through sustainable infrastructure projects. Atelier Fanelsa will construct a new roof for the ‘Rotunda’, using bio-based materials created from invasive plant species like Japanese knotweed and nettles, in collaboration with Technical University of Munich’s Bioregional Design Lab.
Additionally, Jean-Benoît Vétillard has designed a new skatepark in consultation with local skaters, serving both as a sports hub and community gathering space. Meanwhile, Alter, working with Baukreisel, is creating a youth meeting space—a flexible environment for experimentation and creativity.
Across the Darse site, YRD.Works will install Succession, a long-term performative intervention featuring a metal cage structure that will stand for at least five years, gradually being reclaimed by nature.
Horst 2025: A Space for Art, Sound, and Connection
With its 2025 edition, Horst Arts & Music continues to break new ground—bridging disciplines, fostering community, and transforming ASIAT Park into a living experiment of architecture, art, and music. From site-specific performances and pioneering stage designs to lasting community projects, Horst remains at the forefront of cultural innovation and spatial transformation.
About Horst Arts & Music 2025
Festival: May 1st—3rd
Expo: May 15th (vernissage) — September 7th (finissage)
Hours & Tours: Thursdays & Fridays: 16:00 – 20:00; Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00 – 20:00 (free guided tour at 15:00)