Himshe

** 2 females, 3 males = over-sized emotions …

an indie post-punk band that sounds like a Hollywood soundtrack that harbors terrible loneliness, it doesn't coddle, it disturbs.

Leaving traces and dreams of love, death and tenderness in a harsh and violent Lynchian reality … **

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On Human Nature (19/4 at MAGDALENAZAAL, Bruges)

The On Human Nature curatorship at CC Bruges goes beyond music, exploring the deep relationship between humans, music, and emotion. Himshe positions itself not just as a band but as a connecting force, bringing together artists across disciplines to engage with themes of vulnerability, resilience, and creativity.

This project raises fundamental questions about the impact of physical, psychological, or social limitations on artistic expression. What does music mean when you cannot see or hear? How does a performer cope with the loss of their voice? How does mental health shape the creative process? What role does an artist play when their homeland is in conflict? How do different art forms influence each other? How does sound shape image, and vice versa? These are just some of the questions that On Human Nature explores.

Through collaborations with musicians, visual artists, and filmmakers, the curatorship investigates music as a therapeutic and unifying force—a space for the unspoken, a creative process born under extreme conditions. This project highlights the power of music in times of change, crisis, and recovery, inviting audiences to listen, watch, and feel without prejudice. On Human Nature is a call for tolerance and acceptance, a recognition of human extremes, and an exploration of how they can be translated artistically. Himshe works across disciplines to create an inclusive artistic space where musicians—regardless of their background or challenges—can find a voice and a stage.

Himshe brings together artists who embody this emotional force, such as TJE and Hackedepicciotto. TJE, who won third place in Humo’s Rock Rally in 2022, crafts Dutch-language music that balances poetry and raw honesty. His songs are both fragile and powerful, delving into themes of identity, loneliness, and connection.

Hackedepicciotto, the Berlin-based artistic duo of Danielle de Picciotto and Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten), create immersive soundscapes that bridge music, visual art, and literature. Their work reflects on themes of nomadic existence, societal transformation, and the search for deeper human connection.

Visual artist Peter Jonckheere, who uses music as an inspiration in his work, has created three new pieces for this curatorship. Additionally, the film Souvenir, directed by Jasper Vranken and Bert Aeles, will be screened, exploring psychological themes such as grief, parentification, and the ‘masculine’ struggle with communication.

On Human Nature is also the precursor to Himshe’s upcoming album of the same name. In their music, they illuminate the human experience in all its strength and fragility, in its beauty and darkness. Let’s dream in the dark.

The inspirations behind this project are vast: from Evelyn Glennie, who experiences music through resonance, to Susan Philipsz, who breathes new life into broken instruments. From Nick Cave, whose music delves into the deepest human emotions, to David Lynch, who blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination with his surreal storytelling. This project is an exploration of human resilience and the connective power of music.