«I started my project for the Sideways festival one year ago. Just at the moment when I heard from an artist-friend that there will be a Sideways festival in Belgium in 2012. Unfortunately the closing date for project entries already had past. So I just made up a project that could work anyway: I decided to join the festival as «the international unofficial walking guest». Shortly before that date I quitted my longtime work in the field of architectural exhibitions just to focus on my own walking projects. I began to work under the label of «lerjentours. Agentur für Gehkultur» (agency of walking culture) in Switzerland, where I live. I really enjoyed the answer of the Sideways' organisers that I could come over and join the group, what ment that «my project» had been accepted. After my stay and walking along of five days I can say that the Sideways Festival brings together, in a unique way, local people and initiatives with national and international artists and thinkers on walking. The walk through Belgium is not just a hiking trip but mainly a process of interweaving people's knowledge, impressions, ideas, and their thinking on sites. An impressive experience! Therefore I want to let you know: my project is an open source one. Don't be shy to apply also as «an unofficial walking guest» at Sideways expedition 2012!»

Marie-Anne Lerjen, Switzerland; lerjentours, Agentur für Gehkultur; www.lerjentours.ch ; 24 august 2012

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over 30..most of us and the km too today on the map..is it the map the world ?..can stay the world in a map ?..long time question they say..we kind of don't care..Biegel take his time..and we won't arrive in time for dinner. Meanwhile a lot of small and precious conversations are rolling on..and beautiful details appears from nowhere there's a lot of hidden beauty if you take your time ... it will appear..by the way..is nice that in belgium there's not so much advertisement on the streets--compared with other place we know--but there's no people as well..where are they? sometime it looks like we entered a science fiction movie.

anyway

do you remember the myth to live from the forest and the woods ... i.e. "into the wild", "walden" , etc.... well, impossible here in Belgium ..first there's no so much wilderness left, second here like everywhere, it appears that to live from nature you have to own it a piece of it... that is a pretty much stupid concept, to own something which life is longer then us.. we should only take responsability of it...

and slowly arrive the end of the day and the rest..we entering in ARPIA where on saturday there will be an opening in which everybody here will participate..is one of the most known and appreciated landscape art place around Europe..a special place that do not have anything less than big-fat cities museum..and its balance in terms of beauty and simplicity is impressive..plus is open and free to everyone..apparently totally hidden in the belgium landscape..everybody is really happy to be here and have the opportunity to do something with them..that already busy we all disappeared

come tomorrow

or we will keep you slowly update