Back from where? From across the ocean, where they teamed up with their American counterparts to learn, laugh, and create some art – which you will get to see at BOZAR in May. But here’s a sneak preview!

Digital Natives brings together young people from Belgium and the US around common themes of identity and displacement.

Three young Belgians with an immigrant background worked with the students at the Institute Sainte-Marie in Saint-Gilles and video and performance artist Sophie Saporosi.

Then they headed to the States to meet up with their American counterparts at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico (IAIA). The IAIA is the only four-year degree fine arts institution in the US devoted to contemporary Native American arts.

Together they explored the Navajo Nation Reservation and participated in a workshop with a jewelry designer at the Zuni Reservation. They also visited Window Rock, the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

They discussed their shared experiences of loss and enrichment. Young Belgians with an African background and young Americans with a Native American background: how do their experiences differ and where do they overlap?

Inspired by their interactions with the visual artists Jaque Fragua and Monty Little, both alumni of the IAIA, the young participants created a video work around these themes called Feeling Everything All At Once:

Feeling Everything All At Once

Next our Digital Natives traveled to Washington, where they got the opportunity to showcase their work in Congress, on Capitol Hill.

While in Washington, they also visited the National Museum of the American Indian and the Embassy of Tribal Nations, which represents the 573 Native American tribal nations in the American capital.

Now that our Belgian Digital Natives are back, the work continues. They will share their American experience with the students at the Institute Sainte-Marie. The result of all this talking and creating will go on display from May 9, when the interactive exhibition Next Generation, Please takes over Bozar.

Digital Natives is a collaboration between BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts Brussels and Soul of Nations.

STUDENT ARTISTS: Michael Begay, Madeline Lamb, Melverna Aguilar, Oriana Mangala Ikomo Wanga, Laouratou Barry, Ufitinema Arlette Birekeraho, Gregory Ballenger, and Delaney Keshena.

ARTIST MENTORS: Jaque Fragua, Monty Little, and Sophie Saporosi.