Literary Art Route CULTUS Opens in Lo-Reninge, Belgium
The small West Flemish town of Lo-Reninge has launched the first edition of its new Literary Art Route, inviting visitors to reflect on what we worship in the modern age. The route, titled CULTUS, runs from 14 August to 30 September 2026 and is curated by twin sisters Ilke Cop (visual artist) and Uschi Cop (writer), as reported by VRT NWS.
A New Chapter for a Beloved Tradition
The Literary Art Route replaces the Beelden- en Poëzieroute (Sculpture and Poetry Route), which ran for 25 editions in Lo-Reninge and became a fixture for lovers of art, poetry, and slow looking. The final edition of the original route took place in July 2025, with poet Paul Demets selecting the poems, as documented by Het Nieuws van West-Vlaanderen.
The new format, which will now run biennially, places visual art and literature in active dialogue rather than side by side. The official Lo-Reninge website describes the route as a festival where “beeldende kunst en literatuur niet langer naast elkaar plaatst, maar actief met elkaar laat botsen, spreken en resoneren” — visual art and literature no longer placed alongside each other, but actively colliding, speaking, and resonating with one another.
The Theme: What Do We Worship Today?
The theme of CULTUS examines contemporary idols — not just in a religious or ritual sense, but in everyday life. “Eternal youth, the perfect body, productivity, the dictatorship of the algorithm or of a screaming despot: what do we worship today?” ask the curators.
Ilke Cop explains the timeliness of the theme: “We’ve all noticed a kind of ‘decline’ of organized religion for a few decades. But because there’s so much crisis, there’s also more individual spirituality. That’s why this theme is so interesting at this moment.”
“We went looking for contemporary idols,” she adds. “And you can see that very broadly. From the cult of the body to politicians who present themselves as THE solution: who or what do we all put on a pedestal and how do we let that determine our beliefs?”
Ten Artist-Author Duos Across Heritage Sites
To explore these questions, the curators assembled 10 duos, each pairing a visual artist with an author, with at least 12 years age difference between duo members. “We worked intergenerationally,” says Ilke Cop. “The duos differ by at least 12 years in age. That way generations can meet each other.”
The route features established literary names such as Bart Moeyaert, Kristien Hemmerechts, and Annelies Verbeke, alongside visual artists including Kendell Geers and Sofie Muller. Each author wrote new texts specifically for the event, inspired by the art and the surroundings.
Works are displayed at significant heritage locations throughout the towns of Lo, Reninge, Noordschote, and Pollinkhove, including a 13th-century restored city gate, a UNESCO belfry, an 18th-century dovecote tower, churches, and a former brewery. The starting point is the tourist office in the restored former monastery chapel at Markt 11, Lo.
Among the notable works, artist Jonas Vansteenkiste created a rosette on the facade of a former brewery, which he describes as “architectural graffiti. Nature reclaiming culture.” In the church of Reninge, he also presents an installation with ceramic arms, referencing the ex-voto offerings of people who pleaded for healing.
A Critical, Not Blind, Appreciation
While the theme is critical, the curators emphasize that cultus is not purely negative. “There are indeed also beautiful rituals that connect people,” says Uschi Cop. “We all need things to strive for. But our choice for this theme is critical: how can we question ‘cultus’. You can appreciate something, but not blindly.”
Uschi Cop is a prose writer, opinion maker, and curator who debuted earlier this year with the feminist novel ‘Dodeman’, as covered by VRT NWS. Ilke Cop is a Brussels-based visual artist who won the Gaverprijs 2024 for contemporary painting and has exhibited at the Kunstenfestival Watou and other venues. Their biographical details highlight their extensive collaboration, including co-founding the feminist artistic collective Hyster-x.
Part of a Broader West Flanders Tradition
The route is part of a strong tradition of summer art routes in West Flanders, alongside the Kunstenfestival Watou and the Amare route in Damme. The Neem Me Mee Magazine describes the route as an opportunity to “vertragen, kijken, lezen en nadenken over wat we vandaag vereren” — to slow down, look, read, and think about what we worship today.
The route is free to access, with a visitor guide available for purchase. Brochures and cycling/walking maps are available at the tourist office and various info points across the four towns. The route runs daily until 30 September 2026.
What to Watch For
As the first edition of this reimagined festival unfolds, visitors will discover how the 10 artist-author duos interpret the theme of CULTUS across the idyllic West Flemish landscape. The intergenerational approach and the pairing of established names with emerging voices promise a route that challenges, provokes, and inspires reflection on the objects of our contemporary devotion.