Turner Prize-winning artist Laure Prouvost has unveiled a major new permanent fresco titled "The Whispering Walls Rêve" at BRUSK, a new art gallery in Bruges, Belgium. The 350m² four-part fresco adorns the central staircase of the museum's atrium, accessible without a ticket, and incorporates traditional fresco techniques alongside modern materials like mirrors, glass birds, and bronze. Prouvost created her first-ever fresco for this commission, drawing inspiration from existing frescoes in Bruges and consulting with local residents, a tour guide, a hydrologist, and a tree expert. The work includes references to her previous artworks, such as a three-headed bird sculpture from the Folkestone Triennial, and took a team of ten women four months to complete.
This commission matters because it marks a significant permanent public artwork by a leading contemporary artist in a historic city, blending ancient fresco techniques with contemporary conceptual art. The work's placement in a new museum's free-entry atrium democratizes access to high-profile art, while Prouvost's engagement with local communities and her playful use of trompe l'oeil and mixed materials challenge traditional notions of fresco as a static medium. The piece also reinforces Bruges' cultural identity by connecting contemporary art with the city's rich artistic heritage, including its proximity to the Groeningemuseum.