From Production Assistant to Artist

Starting this week, M will for several months provide Tom Hallet (born 1990, Leuven, Belgium) with a position at the M residency in Cas-co. The residency gives emerging artists the opportunity to create new work within the best possible conditions and with expert guidance. Tom primarily creates drawings and sculptures. Central to his work are queer themes and narratives of love, identity, violence and loss.

Experimentation Space for Emerging Talent

M is committed to discovering and continuing to support emerging talent. The museum does this by providing a workplace in Cas-co where artists undisturbed can experiment and create new work. The focus is on visual art and, by extension, performance.

A residency generally lasts three months and runs over several stages. M helps the artists draw up a project plan. We then look at how we can best support the artists in their creation process and use our network to help the artist move forward. As the icing on the cake, the residency ends in an exhibition.

"M is committed to giving emerging artists a platform where they can grow and develop their talents in a professional environment," says Denise Vandevoort, alderman for culture and chair of M's Board of Directors.

"Tom Hallet is also no stranger to M, we have worked together in the past. In 2012, he worked as a production assistant for M, during Sol Lewitt's exhibition. M will also soon be receiving a long-term loan, as Tom is one of the artists whose work was recently purchased by the Flemish Community. We are therefore very pleased to welcome him as M-resident and support him in the growth of his career," adds Laure Vanrijckeghem, M-residency coordinator.

Room to Experiment

During his residency, Hallet will focus on drawing and sculpture. With his installations, the artist wants to challenge us to think about the stories we tell ourselves about representation, social constructions and history. His art departs from his personal history and experiences.

"The M-residency gives me the opportunity to work in a large studio for the first time. This allows me to experiment with new materials and styles. Drawing on a larger scale will be especially challenging, as my work is very detailed. The central location of the studio in Cas-co is also great. This will make it easier for me to welcome people, which I am very much looking forward to," says M-resident Tom Hallet.

During the summer, M-resident Tom Hallet will present work to the public. More info follows. Want to know more about the M residence concept? https://www.mleuven.be/en/m-residence. For more info on M-resident Tom Hallet https://www.mleuven.be/en/m-residence-tom-hallet.