Held at the gallery of renowned comic book store Mekanik Strip in Antwerp, Belgium, the name "Art Trek" was invented as an analogy to the science fiction tv show "Star Trek". Hence also the show's subtitle - this is the new generation of young artists who don't pretend to make "Art" with a capital A, but who want to express themselves with the means most interesting to them, and show their works to the outside world.
Every year during summer, 14 selected artists expose for at least a month. From stencils, silkscreen prints, comic books and paintings over computer designed drawings and collages, every artist has his or her unique style, all of them representing the graphic image of the new millennium.

Antwerp-based artists Ephameron and Mackplakt started the "Art Trek" project in 2005. With a couple of friends they decided, after having taken part in numerous international group exhibitions, to build an expo in Antwerp that finally offered a stage to all the young graphic talent they were witnessing around them and over the internet. One of the other purposes of this project is to break the division between "art" and "youth" by combining "high art" and "low art". An expo like "Art Trek" is definitely worth visiting: an unconventional way of making art and expressing yourself is documented here each year in 14 different ways. Over time, many special helpers joined in the team of volunteers making the exhibition and organizing the opening night.

As a non-profit initiative, "Art Trek" used to receive grants from the Flemish government, thanks to which the project was able to continue on. Our hearts go out as well to everybody at Mekanik Strip, who support in so many ways, offering us free space and helping out with publicity, to our partners at Amphion and Citykingz who never stop believing in us, Levis for supplying the highest quality paint for our murals and Etap Hotel for their generous effort to provide our artists with a roof over their heads...

More info / Press contact: Eva Cardon / 0(032)495/487450 / ephameron@hotmail.com
Gallery: Mekanik Strip / St.-Jacobsmarkt 73 / 2000 Antwerp / Belgium/ www.mekanik-strip.be